BOTETOURT, Va. - The Belhaven University softball team took care of business on Wednesday at the NCCAA national tournament. The Blazers first took down the No. 2 seed Judson, by a score of 6-2, and then battled past Emmanuel 7-2 to cap an undefeated record in pool play.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Belhaven 6, Judson 2    Final: Belhaven 7, Emmanuel 2

Records: Belhaven 24-16 |

Location:  | Botetourt Sports Complex, Botetourt Virginia |

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- The Blazers got things started right from the beginning in the top of the first.

- Kaitlyn Blubaugh reached with a lead off single, followed by a two-run shot from Makayla Reed (her sixth home run of the year) to put BU ahead 2-0.

- Judson answered right back in the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles which scored one runner from first, and closed the lead down to 2-1.

- Jordan Herring recorded two straight strikeouts to get out of the inning.

- Herring continued to make quick work of the Eagles' batters throughout the next two innings.

- The Blazers had runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth with two outs, but they were unable to bring home any runs.

- In the top of the fifth, Makayla Reed delivered her second hit of the game with a triple to right field.

- Moments later in the inning, Marlee Blackwell brought home Reed after connecting on an RBI single to right field.

- Belhaven had runners on first and second with nobody out in the sixth, but Belhaven came up empty in the inning.

- Judson registered back-to-back singles to put two on with nobody out in the bottom half of the sixth.

- Reed turned a double play after a hard ground ball was hit to her at third base, and then Blackwell caught an easy infield pop up to retire the side.

- Cassidy Blount came up with a massive three-run home run in top of the sixth with two outs to push the Blazers ahead 6-1.

- Judson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the deficit down to 6-2.

- Fortunately, that would be all that Judson could do, as the Blazer defense came up big late and sealed the deal.

- Against Emmanuel, the Blazers hopped out to a quick 2-1 advantage through the first two innings of play.

- In the bottom of the third, Makayla Reed and Cassidy Blount smashed back-to-back solo home runs to propel the Blazers ahead 4-1.

- Herring remained inside the circle in game two, and continued to pitch lights out. Emmanuel's offense was stalled and could not produce anything offensively.

- The Blazers made sure to take advantage of Emmanuel's offensive woes later on in the contest.

- BU added three more runs in the top half of the fifth. Meg Garton collected an RBI single to right field to push the lead out to 5-1.

- The Blazers tacked on two more runs of insurance off of a two-RBI single up the middle from Makayla Reed which scored Brittany Chetta and Meg Garton.

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KEY STATISTICS

- Jordan Herring tossed a complete game and struck out six batters

- Herring also earned a victory over Judson in the 2016 NCCAA World Series.

- Makayla Reed finished 1-3 at the plate with a two-run home run.

- Cassidy Blount tallied two singles and then smashed a three-run bomb to finish 3-3 at the plate with three RBI.

- Marlee Blackwell finished 2-4 with an RBI single.

- Belhaven collected eight hits as a team.

- *More on this story to come.

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UP NEXT

After reseeding the field, Belhaven has earned the No. 1 seed, and will face the winner of the 8/9 seed game between Emmanuel and Oakland City at 11:00 a.m. EST.  

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