The Belhaven softball team finished Saturday with a split at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia. The Blazers lost to No. 1 Trine before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over Denison, officials said.
In the opening game, Trine, the defending NCAA Division III national champion, edged Belhaven 6-4. The Thunder scored two runs in the fourth inning to take control after a tight contest. Belhaven kept pace with 11 hits but couldn’t overcome the decisive inning, officials reported. Kaleigh Steverson led the Blazers offensively with three hits and two RBIs, and Macy Funderburk pitched four scoreless innings in relief, striking out seven.
Belhaven responded in game two with a 2-1 victory over Denison. The game was scoreless through three innings before Denison took a 1-0 lead on a solo home run. Reagan Bryan tied the game with a triple in the sixth, and Kaleigh Steverson hit a solo home run for the game-winner. Maryanna Guy added a sacrifice fly to score Bryan. AR Sharp pitched six innings, striking out 11, and Macy Funderburk earned the save with a perfect seventh inning, officials said.
The Blazers will play two more games later this weekend to conclude the tournament. For updates, fans can follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram or like the team’s Facebook page.
