Jackson, Miss. — Belhaven University’s softball team is preparing to host its first NCAA Division III Regional at McLeod Field. The Blazers earned the automatic bid after winning five straight games in the elimination bracket to claim their second consecutive CCS Tournament title.
The No. 1 seed Blazers finished the regular season with a 37-9 record and will open regional play Thursday at 11 a.m. CST against No. 4 seed Westminster (Pa.). This marks the first time in program history that Belhaven will host an NCAA Regional. The team has not faced the other three regional teams this season, which include No. 2 seed Emory, No. 3 seed Berry, and Westminster.
Emory enters the tournament with a 25-12 record after finishing as runner-up in the UAA Championship. Berry comes in at 30-13 after sweeping Trinity (Texas) on the final day of the SAA Tournament to secure its conference title. Westminster earned its bid by winning the PAC Championship and sports a 30-9 record.
Belhaven’s postseason run has been fueled by a potent offense that leads the CCS in batting average (.344), runs scored (283), hits (364), and RBIs (259). Several players, including Maryanna Guy, Melissa Lopera, and Kaleigh Steverson, have ranked high on league leaderboards. Macy Funderburk, a junior pitcher, has been a standout in the circle, going 5-0 during the CCS Tournament and earning tournament MVP honors for the second straight year. She enters the regional with a 15-4 record and a 1.74 ERA.
Under head coach Kevin Griffin, Belhaven has gained valuable postseason experience. Hosting the regional at home signifies a new milestone for the program. Additional tournament details, including game times and ticket information, will be posted on blazers.belhaven.edu. Fans can follow team updates on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and support the team through the Belhaven Athletics Team Green Giving initiative.
