JACKSON - The Belhaven University softball team split a Friday doubleheader at Jim McLeod Field, earning a 6-5 walk-off win over Centenary College in the opener before dropping an 11-2 decision to Hardin-Simmons in game two.
Game 1: Belhaven 6, Centenary 5
Belhaven used a big second inning and late-game heroics to take the opener in dramatic fashion on Friday After Centenary struck first in the top of the opening frame, the Blazers answered immediately. Reagan Bryan worked a walk, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and stole home to even the score at 1-1.
The Blazers broke through in the second, capitalizing on patience at the plate. Kaleigh Steverson, Ellie Williamson and Libert Gillihan all drew walks to load the bases before Grace Langston lifted a sacrifice fly to give Belhaven a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Bryan delivered the big swing, a three-run double down the left-field line, pushing the advantage to 5-1.
Centenary chipped away with three runs in the sixth and tied the game in the seventh at 5-5.
In the bottom of the seventh, Maryanna Guy led off with a single and AR Sharp entered as a pinch runner. After a one-out single by Steverson moved the tying run into scoring position, Williamson came through with a clutch RBI single up the middle to plate Sharp and secure the 6-5 walk-off victory.
Bryan finished with three RBI and a double, while Williamson went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two walks.
In the circle, AR Sharp (2-0) earned the win in relief, striking out two in the final 2/3 of an inning. Karley Rouse started and allowed three runs over five innings, and LBÂ Nesmith worked 1.1 innings in relief.
Game 2: Hardin-Simmons 11, Belhaven 2
In the nightcap, Hardin-Simmons used a three-run first inning to seize early momentum. Belhaven responded in the second when Gracey Harbour doubled down the right-field line and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Langston to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Blazers added another run in the third as Liberty Gillihan scored on a sacrifice fly from Steverson after reaching base earlier in the inning, trimming the margin to 3-2.
The Cowgirls answered with four runs in the fifth to extend the lead to 7-2 and added four more in the seventh to pull away. Harbour paced Belhaven offensively in game two, going 1-for-1 with a double and two walks. Maryanna Guy and Lauren Dunbar each added a hit as the Blazers totaled four on the afternoon.
Macy Funderburk (0-1) took the loss in the start. AR Sharp, Harbour and Olivia Burns combined for the remainder of the innings in relief.
Belhaven will look to bounce back as action continues this weekend at Jim McLeod Field. The Blazers will take on Hardin-Simmons tomorrow at 12:30 PM before facing Centenary to wrap up the weekend at 3:00 PM.
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