Belhaven Baseball Hits Four Home Runs in NCAA Regional Win Over Westminster
JACKSON, Miss. — Belhaven made NCAA Regional history Thursday with a program-best four home runs in an 8-2 victory over Westminster (Pa.) at Jim McLeod Field. The win marks the Blazers’ first NCAA Regional game hosted in program history and sends them into the winner’s bracket final, inching closer to a fourth NCAA Super Regional appearance in five seasons.
Westminster took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning after a walk, a double, and a two-run single to center. Belhaven responded immediately. Grace Langston drew a leadoff walk, and Reagan Bryan hit a two-run homer to tie the game in the bottom of the inning. The momentum shifted back to the Blazers, who exploded offensively in the second inning.
Maddie Bruner opened the inning with a solo shot, giving Belhaven a 3-2 lead. Later in the inning, Bryan singled, and Maryanna Guy launched a three-run homer over the scoreboard, extending the lead to 6-2. Ellie Williamson added a single before Kaleigh Steverson hit Belhaven’s fourth home run of the game, a two-run blast that made it 8-2. The inning featured seven hits for the Blazers.
Belhaven’s pitching staff took over after the explosive second inning. Macy Funderburk rebounded from the first inning to strike out seven over four innings, allowing only two hits. She retired the side in order in the third and fourth innings, with back-to-back strikeouts in the fourth to prevent a comeback. Karley Rouse entered in relief in the fifth and pitched three perfect innings, striking out two and earning the save.
Belhaven finished with 12 hits, with six different players recording at least one. Bryan went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Guy drove in three runs with her second-inning homer. Steverson added two hits and two RBIs, and Bruner contributed a solo home run.
The Blazers will face Emory in the winner’s bracket final Friday at 11 a.m. The winner advances to the regional championship game Saturday. For updates, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram or like Belhaven Athletics on Facebook.
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