MARSHALL, Texas - The Belhaven Softball team has put themselves one win away from the first Super Regional appearance in program history after knocking off the #7 East Texas Baptist Tigers 4-3 in their NCAA Regional Semi-Final matchup.

In their 7th matchup of the season the Blazers were set down in order in the top of the 1st inning and Kennedy Carruth pitched around a one-out single to keep the Tigers scoreless in the same frame. Belhaven opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning after Ellie Jones led off the frame with a double and came around to score on Sydney Runnels' RBI base hit. 

The Tigers tied the score in the bottom of the 3rd with a solo home run but the Blazers were quick to answer jumping back in front in the top of the 4th with a pair of runs. After Jones once again led off the frame with a hit, Anna McNeer put Belhaven in front 2-1 with an RBI base hit. May Hebert then followed up with an RBI single of her own to give the Blazers a 3-1 lead in the 4th inning. 

Both lineups were kept quiet in the 5th inning and the Blazers were held scoreless in the top of the 6th. In the bottom half of the 6th inning the Tigers once again were able to draw back even on a two-out, two-run home run that tied the game at three runs apiece. 

The Blazers got a dramatic run in the top of the 7th after a leadoff walk by May Hebert. Jordan Kanipe pinch ran for Hebert and swiped second base before stealing third on a dropped third strike play at first base. Kanipe would come in to score the would-be winning run on a second dropped third strike in the inning, this time with Allie Gordon reaching base safely. 

Up 4-3 in the home half of the 7th inning, Carruth retired the first two hitters of the inning before surrendering a two-out walk. Carruth got the final Tigers' hitter to ground out though sending Belhaven into the Regional Final where they'll have to win once to secure a Super Regional bid. 

The Blazers will wait to find out their opponent for Saturday's Regional Final as Linfield and Fontbonne square off in the first elimination day of the game on Friday afternoon. The winner of that matchup will face ETBU in an elimination game on Friday evening. Whoever makes it to the Regional Final will have to beat the Blazers twice in the double elimination format.

The first game on Saturday will be scheduled for 12 PM.

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 25-3): 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 K

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

Ellie Jones: 2-4, 2B, 2 R
Sydney Runnels: 1-2, RBI, R
Anna McNeer: 1-3, RBI
May Hebert: 1-2, BB, RBI

To view the Marshall Regional bracket click here (PDF). 

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