COLUMBUS, Ga. - The Belhaven Softball team split a pair of games on Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, rallying for a walk-off victory over Pfeiffer before falling in a tightly contested matchup against Mount Union. The Blazers moved to 6-5 overall following the two games in the national showcase event.

Game One: Belhaven 6, Pfeiffer 5 (8 Innings)
Belhaven opened the day with a dramatic extra-inning victory over Pfeiffer, using a balanced offensive attack and late-game composure to secure a 6-5 walk-off win.

The Blazers struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Melissa Lopera started the rally with a double down the left-field line and later came home on an RBI single from Maryanna Guy to give Belhaven an early 1-0 lead.

Belhaven extended the lead in the second inning. Emma Moore drew a walk before advancing on a sacrifice bunt by Maddie Bruner. Grace Langston followed with a clutch RBI single up the middle to score Moore, and Lopera added another run with an RBI single to center to push the advantage to 3-0.

The momentum continued in the third when Guy launched a solo home run to left-center field, giving the Blazers a 4-0 lead.

Pfeiffer answered in the fourth inning with a two-run rally, using aggressive baserunning and a groundout RBI to cut the deficit to 4-2. Belhaven quickly responded in the bottom half when Bruner delivered a solo home run to left-center, restoring a three-run cushion at 5-2.

The Falcons mounted their biggest threat in the seventh. A single and defensive miscue allowed Pfeiffer to score a run before an RBI single later in the inning tied the game at 5-5. With runners on base and momentum shifting, AR Sharp entered in relief and delivered a key strikeout to end the inning and force extras.

Sharp continued to keep Pfeiffer off the board in the eighth, striking out the side around a single to set up the Blazers' final rally.

In the bottom of the eighth, Maddie Keller started the inning as the placed runner at second. Lily Wainwright immediately moved her into scoring position with a single up the middle, and Gracey Harbour was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bruner then delivered the decisive moment, drawing a walk that forced home the winning run and sealed the 6-5 victory for Belhaven.

Guy paced the offense with two hits including a home run and two RBIs, while Lopera collected two hits and Langston added an RBI single. Bruner finished with a home run and the walk-off RBI.

Karley Rouse started in the circle, tossing six innings while striking out six. Sharp earned the win in relief after two scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

Game Two: Mount Union 7, Belhaven 6
Belhaven nearly pulled off another comeback in the second game of the day, but Mount Union held on for a 7-6 win.

The Blazers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. After Kaleigh Steverson singled, Guy blasted a two-run home run to left-center field to put Belhaven ahead 2-0.

Mount Union answered quickly in the bottom half with an RBI single to cut the lead to 2-1.

The game swung in the third inning when Mount Union capitalized on a series of hits and defensive miscues. The Purple Raiders used five hits and multiple errors to produce a six-run inning, highlighted by a two-run double that pushed the lead to 7-2.

Belhaven began chipping away in the fourth. Guy led off with a double and later scored when Lauren Dunbar tripled to deep left field, trimming the deficit to 7-3.

The Blazers added another run in the fifth when Lopera doubled to center and later scored on an RBI single from Guy to make it 7-4.

Mount Union threatened again in the fourth inning, putting runners aboard, but Macy Funderburk entered in relief and worked out of the jam with a flyout to strand the runners and keep Belhaven within reach.

Belhaven mounted its final push in the seventh inning. Lopera drew a walk and Reagan Bryan singled to start the rally before Steverson added another base hit to load the bases. Guy drove in a run with a walk, and Emma Moore followed with another bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 7-6.

With the tying and winning runs on base, Mount Union escaped with a strikeout to end the comeback attempt.

Guy delivered a standout performance at the plate, finishing with three hits including a home run, double, and four RBI to lead the Belhaven offense  . Steverson added two hits while Lopera recorded a double and scored twice.

Funderburk provided a strong relief outing in the circle, allowing just two hits over 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to stabilize the game late.

Belhaven continues play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with additional matchups scheduled throughout the weekend.

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