May 26, 2010: The Belhaven softball team falls short to William Carey University in the losers bracket of the 2010 NAIA Softball National Championship Tuesday at Wilson Morgan Softball Complex 3-2. The Blazers first trip to the national championship comes to a close with a record of 4-2 and they conclude their season at 54-10.
Belhaven strikes first as Tiffany Ansley blasted an RBI single through the hole at short stop scoring Christina Jaques to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first frame. Judy Barber got hold of a Sarah Burns pitch and sent it sailing over the left-field fence to chase home Kelsey Jo Smith and Tan Montgomery to put William Carey up 3-1 and that would be the last of the Crusaders offense.
The Blazers fought back in the top of the sixth inning when Jaques hit a RBI double to deep left field allowing Jessica Eggold to cross home plate. Belhaven a made great effort to overcome William Carey, but the Crusaders would not budge as they went on to win 3-2.
Burns (30-6) pitched all six innings for Belhaven and suffered her sixth loss of the season allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts. The Blazers were limited to four hits with Ansley collecting two of them in three at bats along with an RBI. Jaques went one for three at the plate and also had an RBI for Belhaven. In the two games combined as a team, the Blazers stole six bases and finished the year with 229.
Anna Ard (14-4) picked up the win for the Crusaders as she fired a complete game giving up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Barber had one hit in three at bats with three runs batted in to pace William Carey at the plate followed by Tan Montgomery who had two hits.
In spite of the loss to William Carey, the Blazers turned in one of the best seasons in school history and should be strong again in 2011.
See information on the softball season on the Blazers official web site.