Belhaven University Athletics

JACKSON, Miss. - One day after opening the NCAA Regional with a power-filled win, Belhaven kept rolling Friday morning at Jim McLeod Field.

The Blazers scored in each of the first three innings, piled up 12 hits, and cruised past Emory 9-1 to move into the championship round of the NCAA Division III Softball Belhaven Regional. With the victory, Belhaven moves one win away from advancing to the program's fourth NCAA Super Regional in the last five seasons.
 

Hear from Coach Kevin Griffin and seniors Ellie Williamson & Kaleigh Steverson after advancing to the Belhaven Regional Championship Game with a win over Emory earlier today

?? https://t.co/dQJmSvkWVa#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/Q3qKbf9k1F

— Belhaven Softball (@BelhavenSB_) May 16, 2026

Belhaven now advances to Saturday's regional championship against Emory. The Blazers need just one win to clinch the regional title, while Emory must defeat Belhaven twice to advance.

The Eagles threatened early after putting a runner aboard in the first, but Macy Funderburk quickly settled in. The junior retired the next two hitters, including a strikeout, to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

Belhaven answered immediately in the bottom half. Reagan Bryan singled and stole second before Maryanna Guy drew a walk. Ellie Williamson followed with a single to load the bases, and Kaleigh Steverson delivered the first big hit of the day with a two-run ground-rule double to right center, giving the Blazers a 2-0 lead.

Funderburk continued to deal in the second inning, working around a walk and stranding another runner after a strikeout looking and a flyout to center. The Blazers then broke the game open in the bottom of the second.

Maddie Bruner opened the inning with a walk before Grace Langston lined a single to left. Bryan followed with a sacrifice bunt that brought home another run, and Guy added an RBI double to left field to extend the lead to 4-0.

Belhaven kept the pressure on from there. Williamson ripped an RBI single to right center before Steverson added another base hit. Melissa Lopera followed with an RBI double down the left-field line, and Lauren Dunbar capped the six-run inning with a two-run double into the gap in left center to push the lead to 8-0.

The offense added one more run in the third after Bryan was hit by a pitch and later scored on Williamson's third hit of the game, making it 9-0. Meanwhile, Funderburk was in complete control in the circle. The junior tossed three hitless innings and allowed just one baserunner while striking out two.

Karley Rouse took over in relief and helped finish things off. Emory finally broke through in the fifth after putting together a pair of hits and a walk, but Rouse worked out of the inning with a groundout to strand two runners and secure the run-rule victory. Belhaven finished with 12 hits overall and had production throughout the lineup. Williamson led the way with a perfect 3-for-3 performance and two RBI, while Steverson went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Guy added a double, RBI, and two runs scored, while Lopera and Dunbar each drove in runs during the decisive second inning.

The Blazers will now look to close out the regional tomorrow against Emory at Jim McLeod Field.

For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. To support Belhaven Athletics check out Team Green Giving.