BOTETOURT, Va. - The Belhaven University softball team won their fourth straight game at the NCCAA national tournament with a 7-2 victory over Judson.

With the victory, the Blazers advance to the national championship game tomorrow against Central Baptist College.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Belhaven 7, Judson 3

Records: Belhaven 26-16 |

Location:  | Botetourt Sports Complex, Botetourt Virginia |

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- It was a pitchers duel early on in the contest as both teams were trying to feel each pitcher out again.

- Today's contest marked the second meeting this year in the NCCAA national tournament between the two squads.

- Belhaven broke through in a big way in the third inning with an avalanche of seven runs.

- The Blazers started things off by loading up the bases after Makayla Reed was hit by a pitch, Marlee Blackwell advanced to first on a batted ball, and Whitney Jemison reached base following a fielder's choice.

- Reed scored the first run of the game on an error to make it 1-0 BU.

- Moments later in the inning, Cassidy Blount connected on an RBI single to left field to score Blackwell.

- Danielle Darmohray drilled an RBI single to right center which allowed Jemison to easily cross the plate and make it 3-0 Belhaven.

- Judson still had yet to record an out in the inning, and the Blazers continued to pour it on.

- Anna Peyton Montesi then brought home both Cassidy Blount and Danielle Darmohray to extend the Blazers' lead out to 5-0.

- Kaitlyn Blubaugh's RBI bunt single scored Chetta from third as Belhaven went ahead 6-0. The last run of the inning was scored by Montesi after a sacrifice fly from Meg Garton.

- Belhaven continued to shut out Judson until the fifth inning, where the Eagles scored all three of their runs.

- All three of Judson's runs were scored on RBI singles.

- Jordan Herring struck out the side in the sixth, and then retired the side in order in the seventh to clinch the victory.

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KEY STATISTICS

- Jordan Herring tossed her fourth straight complete game at the NCCAA World Series.

- Herring struck out six batters and did not walk a single batter in the victory.

- Kaitlyn Blubaugh finished 3-4 at the plate with an RBI.

- Anna Peyton Montesi collected a two-RBI single.

- Danielle Darmohray, Cassidy Blount, and Meg Garton all tallied one RBI apiece. Darmohray and Blount also registered one hit each.

- Makayla Reed, Marlee Blackwell, and Whitney Jemison all scored one run each and recorded one hit.

- Montesi and Brittany Chetta both scored one run.

- Belhaven finished with eight hits as a team.

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UP NEXT

Belhaven will play Central Baptist College tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. EST in the NCCAA national championship game.

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