The Belhaven softball team, ranked No. 9 in the latest NFCA Division III poll, defeated Millsaps 2-1 in 8 innings Wednesday at the Millsaps Softball Complex. The victory caps the Riverside Rivalry series with each team winning one game this spring.
Both teams kept the game scoreless through the first four innings. Millsaps took a 1-0 lead in the second after a single, a bunt, and a sacrifice play following a Belhaven error. The Majors scored despite Belhaven limiting their opportunities early.
Belhaven tied the game in the fifth inning. Lauren Dunbar doubled and advanced on a passed ball before scoring on Melissa Lopera’s RBI single. The game remained tied through the seventh inning, sending it into extra frames.
In the eighth, Belhaven exploited the international tiebreaker rule. Reagan Bryan laid down a bunt, which led to an error and the go-ahead run. Macy Funderburk closed the game in relief, allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings to earn the win. Gracey Harbour pitched six strong innings, allowing one unearned run and scattering five hits.
Offensively, Lopera led with a hit and an RBI, while Dunbar added a double and scored the tying run. Maryanna Guy extended her hitting streak to 19 games with a single in the eighth. Belhaven finished with five hits in the game.
The Blazers return home Saturday for a doubleheader against Piedmont, with first pitch scheduled for noon. For updates, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram or like the team on Facebook.
