Belhaven Softball Splits Doubleheader at Maryville, Ends Winning Streaks

The Belhaven softball team split a road doubleheader at Maryville on Friday. The Blazers won the first game 9-6 before falling 3-0 in the nightcap, snapping a 12-game winning streak and ending a 19-game winning streak against Coastal Carolina opponents, according to team sources.

In the opener, Belhaven erased an early four-run deficit with a big third inning and added late insurance runs. Maryville scored twice in the first and twice in the second, including back-to-back home runs, to take a 4-0 lead. The Blazers responded in the third inning with a rally sparked by a bunt single from Grace Langston and a two-run home run from Melissa Lopera. Ellie Williamson tied the game with a two-run double, and Liberty Gillihan and Langston added RBI singles to give Belhaven a 6-4 lead.

Maryville tied it again with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third. Belhaven pitcher Macy Funderburk, who entered in the second inning, kept the game close, escaping a fourth-inning jam and retiring the side in the fifth. The Blazers regained the lead in the sixth when Kaleigh Steverson hit an RBI double. They added three insurance runs in the seventh, with Lopera and Reagan Bryan delivering RBIs, and Funderburk closed out the game with a 1-2-3 inning.

Funderburk earned the win in relief, pitching 5.2 innings and striking out four. Lopera led the offense with three hits and three RBIs. Gillihan added two hits and an RBI, and Langston contributed two hits and a run batted in.

The second game was limited offensively for Belhaven. Maryville scored a run in the fifth on an RBI double, added a solo home run in the sixth, and scored again on a wild pitch to secure the 3-0 victory. The Blazers had an early scoring opportunity when Reagan Bryan doubled and advanced to third in the third inning but could not capitalize.

Belhaven, now 28-8 overall, will return home next Friday for a four-game series to close out the regular season. Follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like their Facebook page for updates. Fans can also support the team through Team Green Giving, the school’s athletics fundraising initiative.

Source: Original Article