Box Score MARSHALL, Texas - The Belhaven Softball team has punched their first ever ticket to an NCAA Super Regional as they polished off an unbeaten run at the Marshall Regional on Saturday with a 5-3 win over #6 Linfield, clinching the Regional Championship.

After knocking off Fontbonne and #7 East Texas Baptist in the first two days of the tournament the Blazers faced #6 Linfield in the Regional Final round, only needing to win once out of two potential games to cement their spot in the Super Regionals.

It was Linfield who struck first in the game as the Wildcats worked a leadoff walk and swiped second base before opening the scoring on an RBI double in the top of the 1st inning. After one full frame, Linfield held a 1-0 lead but the Blazers were able to get their bats going in the bottom of the 2nd after Ellie Jones and Kennedy Carruth led off the inning with back-to-back hits. Jones would score on a sacrifice fly by Macy Ziskin to level the game at 1-1 before Anna McNeer gave Belhaven the lead with a base hit up the middle to score Carruth.

The Wildcats were quick to respond tying the game at 2-2 with a run in the top of the 3rd before retaking the lead in the top of the 4th after manufacturing another run and jumping in front 3-2. After Linfield took the lead in the top of the 4th the Blazers got an instant response as Kennedy Carruth delivered a solo home run to center field to knot the contest right back up continuing the trend of the tightly contested final.

Linfield looked for a quick answer in the 5th inning but left a pair stranded which opened the door for a big inning from the Blazers that included two home runs. Marlee Blackwell led off the frame with a solo homer to put Belhaven in front 4-3 before Ellie Jones joined in on the action with a monstrous homer to center field to double the Blazers' advantage. 

With a two-run lead to work with, relief pitcher Gracey Baucom entered the game in the circle and shutdown the Wildcats' at the plate with a pair of three up, three down innings that solidified Belhaven's spot in the next round of the 2022 NCAA Softball Championships.

The Blazers will play the winner of the Seguin Regional which features #2 Texas Lutheran University and Chapman University in the Super Regionals. The location and schedule are still to be announced.

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Kennedy Carruth (W, 26-3): 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 K
Gracey Baucom (S, 1): 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

Kennedy Carruth: 3-3, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 R
Ellie Jones: 2-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
Marlee Blackwell: 1-3, HR, RBI
Anna McNeer: 1-1, BB, RBI

ALL-REGIONAL TEAM

Kennedy Carruth: 3-0, 14.2 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 10K (Wins vs. Fontbonne, #7 ETBU, #6 Linfield) / 3-9, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 R
Haley Hanson: 3-10, 2 2B, RBI, R 
Allie Gordon: 2-10, HR, 3 RBI

MARSHALL REGIONAL MVP

Ellie Jones: 4-10, 2 2B, HR, RBI, 5 R

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