MARSHALL, Texas - For a third straight year, the Belhaven Softball team finds themselves headed to an NCAA Softball Regional after securing an at-large bid to this year's Softball Championship.

The 2023 postseason will bring about familiar faces for the Blazers' program as they head to Marshall, Texas for a second straight year to compete in a Regional hosted by East Texas Baptist University. Along with the Tigers, who Belhaven saw regularly in American Southwest Conference play over the past few seasons, the Blazers will also see their Super Regional opponent from last year, Texas Lutheran, and 2023 non-conference opponent SUNY Geneseo in the Marshall Regional.

PUNCHING THEIR TICKET

The Blazers had to sweat out the NCAA Softball Championship selection show earlier this week hoping to earn an at-large bid into the 62-team field. The Blazers, who finished the 2023 regular season with a 29-11 record, were at the mercy of the selection committee as the newly formed Collegiate Conference of the South is without an automatic bid for its conference champion for its first two years of competition.

After a rocky 7-9 start to the year the Blazers rattled off wins in 22 of their last 24 including a 14-game win streak to close the season which was highlighted by a 5-0 run through the inaugural CCS Tournament en route to a regular season and tournament title sweep. Belhaven's resumé boasts a 14-2 record in conference play as well as wins over #5 Berry, #18 Birmingham-Southern and a doubleheader sweep of #25 Piedmont.

THE OPPOSITION

Top Seed - #9 East Texas Baptist 

Overall Record: 38-5 (22-5 ASC)
Bid: ASC Tournament Champion
Matchup Record: 8-11
Last Meeting: May 13, 2022 (W, 4-3)
Current Streak: W3

Second Seed - #8 Texas Lutheran

Overall Record: 38-6 (19-2 SCAC)
Bid: At-Large (SCAC Tournament Runner-Up)
Matchup Record: 0-2
Last Meeting: May 21, 2022 (L, 2-6) 
Current Streak: L2

Fourth Seed - SUNY Geneseo

Overall Record: 25-16-1 (12-6 SUNYAC)
Bid: SUNYAC Tournament Champion
Matchup Record: 0-1
Last Meeting: March 12, 2023
Current Streak: L1

REGIONAL FORMAT

The Blazers open up their regional weekend against 2nd-seeded Texas Lutheran in a rematch of last year's 2023 Seguin Super Regional. The Blazers and Bulldogs will square off in the opening game in Marshall on Thursday at 2:00 PM. 

The winner of that game will take on the winner of Thursday's second game between top seed ETBU and fourth seed SUNY Geneseo. The two teams that come up short across those Thursday matchups will face off Friday in an elimination game. 

NEED TO KNOW

Live Stats
Live Stream
Regional Central
Regional Notes
Regional Bracket

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