Belhaven University Athletics

SALEM, Va. - Seventh-seeded Belhaven battled back from an early deficit and brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning, but No. 2 seed, and defending NCAA Division III National Champion, Trine held on for a 7-5 victory Thursday evening in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Softball Finals at the Moyer Complex.

The loss drops the Blazers to 42-11 overall and sends them into an elimination game Friday at 5:30 p.m. CST against No. 6 seed Mount Union. Trine improved to 39-6 and advances in the winner's bracket.

Belhaven finished with 10 hits and cut a four-run deficit to two in the final inning, but the early damage proved too much to overcome. Kaleigh Steverson led the offense with three hits, while Grace Langston and Liberty Gillihan added two hits apiece.

The Thunder struck quickly in the bottom of the first. A leadoff double and RBI triple gave Trine an early lead before an RBI double extended the advantage to 2-0. After Karley Rouse entered in relief, Trine added another run on an RBI single to make it 3-0. Despite the early trouble, Rouse limited the damage and stranded two runners to keep the deficit at three.

Belhaven answered in the second inning. Steverson opened the frame with a double and later scored when Lauren Dunbar lined an RBI single to left field, trimming the lead to 3-1. Gillihan followed with a walk to put two aboard, but the Thunder escaped further trouble.

Trine regained momentum in the bottom of the second when Debbie Hill connected on a two-run home run to push the lead to 5-1.

The Blazers immediately responded in the third. Langston worked a leadoff walk and Reagan Bryan followed with a single. After a defensive miscue allowed Langston to score, Steverson delivered an RBI single down the right field line to plate Bryan and pull Belhaven within 5-3.

Rouse settled in from there and gave the Blazers a chance. The junior retired the side in order in the third and later worked around traffic in the fourth. After Trine loaded the bases with two outs, Rouse induced a strikeout looking to end the inning and prevent a larger rally.

The Thunder managed to add a run in the fourth on an RBI single and pushed another across in the fifth after a two-out double eventually came around to score, extending the lead to 7-3.

Belhaven continued to threaten throughout the middle innings. Gillihan and Langston both singled in the fourth, while Ellie Williamson and Steverson reached in the fifth, but Trine's pitching staff came up with key outs to preserve the four-run advantage.

The Blazers made one final push in the seventh. Bryan reached on an error and moved into scoring position before Maryanna Guy lined an RBI double to right-center field to cut the deficit to 7-4. Madeline Bullock entered as a pinch runner and advanced to third on a groundout. Two batters later, Melissa Lopera delivered an RBI single to score Bullock and bring Belhaven within two runs.

With the tying run coming to the plate, Trine recorded the final out to secure the victory.

Steverson finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Langston went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Gillihan added two hits and Guy finished with a double and two RBI. Dunbar and Lopera each drove in a run.

After entering in relief in the opening inning, Rouse gave Belhaven six strong innings in the circle, allowing four runs, three earned, while working through multiple jams to keep the Blazers within striking distance.

Belhaven will look to extend its season Friday when the Blazers face Mount Union in an elimination game at 5:30 p.m. CST. A win would keep Belhaven alive in the national championship tournament, while a loss would end the season.

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