Belhaven University Athletics

JACKSON, Miss. - In the first NCAA Regional game hosted in program history, Belhaven made sure the moment felt memorable from the start.

The Blazers launched four home runs, erupted for six runs in the second inning, and rolled past Westminster (Pa.) 8-2 on Thursday morning at Jim McLeod Field to open NCAA Regional play. The four home runs were Belhaven's most in a game since hitting four against Millsaps last February and marked the most home runs the program has ever hit in an NCAA postseason game.

With the victory, Belhaven advances to the winner's bracket final and moves one win closer to the program's fourth NCAA Super Regional appearance in the last five seasons.

Westminster landed the first punch in the opening inning after a walk and double set up a two-run single to center, giving the Titans an early 2-0 lead.

Belhaven answered immediately. Grace Langston drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half before Reagan Bryan turned on a pitch and drove it over the wall in left field for a game-tying two-run homer. The quick response shifted the energy back to the Blazers and set the tone for the rest of the morning.

After Macy Funderburk settled in with a clean second inning that included another strikeout, the offense exploded again in the bottom of the second.

Maddie Bruner started the inning with a solo shot to left, giving Belhaven its first lead at 3-2. A few batters later, Bryan singled and Maryanna Guy followed with a towering three-run homer over the scoreboard to left field, stretching the advantage to 6-2.

The inning still was not finished. Ellie Williamson singled up the middle before Kaleigh Steverson launched Belhaven's fourth home run of the day, a two-run blast to left that pushed the lead to 8-2. Lauren Dunbar followed with a double as the Blazers piled up seven hits in the inning alone.

From there, Belhaven's pitching staff took over. Funderburk bounced back after the first inning and dominated through the middle frames, striking out seven across four innings while allowing only two hits. Westminster did not record another hit after the opening inning.

The junior also worked through a pair of important moments that helped keep the momentum firmly on Belhaven's side. After retiring the side in order in the third, she followed with another clean inning in the fourth that included back-to-back strikeouts to erase any thought of a comeback.

Karley Rouse entered in relief in the fifth and closed the door the rest of the way. The junior retired all nine hitters she faced and struck out two over three perfect innings to earn the save.

Belhaven finished with 12 hits overall and had six different players record a hit. Bryan went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while Guy drove in three runs with her second-inning homer. Steverson added two hits and two RBI, and Bruner chipped in a solo home run of her own.

The Blazers now move into the winner's bracket final as postseason play continues in Jackson. Belhaven will take on Emory tomorrow at 11:00 AM, as the winner advances to the Belhaven Regional Championship Game on Saturday.

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