Belhaven softball secured its fourth-ever super regional appearance, surviving a winner-take-all game on Saturday, and is now one series away from the NCAA Division III College World Series.
The home-team Blazers started the regional at McLeod Field with an 8-2 win over Westminster (Pa.) on Thursday before beating Emory, 9-1, in the winner’s bracket on Friday. Emory worked its way to the championship by beating Westminster after taking down Berry earlier in the regional.
On Saturday, Emory needed two, and Belhaven needed just one to advance.
Emory got the first game, 15-7. But the Blazers had more in the tank and shut out the Eagles, 4-0, later in the evening. To no surprise, All-Collegiate Conference of the South first-teamer Macy Funderburk (18-5) was the star of the show with seven innings of no-run ball. She only allowed four hits during her third complete game of the season.
The Belhaven (40-10) offense gave Funderburk plenty to work with. In the third inning, Grace Langston laid down a clean bunt that not only got her to base but scored Maddie Bruner, who opened the inning with a double. Langston was sent home on a Maryanna Guy single through the left side of the field.
With the score at 2-0 and Funderburk hurling, the offense added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh when Liberty Gillihan knocked in two runners on a single through the middle of the field. Funderburk retired the next three Emory (28-14) batters to close out the contest.
Following the regional, Ellie Williamson, Lauen Dunbar, and Kaleigh Steverson were named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team for consistent showings throughout. Funderburk earned Most Outstanding Player honors.
The Blazers will once again host, welcoming Wisconsin-Oshkosh to Jackson for the super-regional round. The best-of-three series will begin Thursday at 2 p.m. with Friday’s first pitch set for 1 p.m. If a third game is necessary, it will be played Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Eight super-regional winners will advance to the College World Series, which will be played in Salem, Va., from May 28-June 3.
