MARSHALL, Texas – A four-run sixth inning became the difference in game one of the three-game series as Belhaven University slipped by fourth-ranked East Texas Baptist University, 10-6, on Friday evening at Taylor Field. ETBU combined for 10 hits as three players had two hits each.

Lindsey Vasquez, Jayme Perez and Jessica Bowden combined to account for a half dozen hits, and Linzie Lewis scored three runs. In the pitcher's circle, Kelly Jo McLendon (0-2) took the loss going 5 2/3 innings and allowing 11 hits and 10 runs (eight earned) while striking out three batters. In relief of McLendon, Raquel Tello threw 1 1/3 innings of one-hit ball.

Belhaven scored twice in each of the first three innings, but ETBU countered with five runs of its own to trail by a 6-5 margin after three completed innings. In the bottom of the first, Bowden plated Lewis with an RBI single to left-center. An inning later in the second, Kaitlyn Hollingshead hit a run-scoring double to right-center, and ETBU scored another run on a Belhaven error. Perez then drove home Lewis with an RBI double to left-center to knot the game up, 4-4.

In bottom of the third, Katy Hill drove in Bowden with a run-scoring single to center field to bring ETBU with in one run of Belhaven, 6-5. One inning later, Lacey Lindsey plated the game-tying run with an RBI single to left field, driving in Lewis to make it a 6-6 game. Belhaven would, however, score the game's final four runs in the top of the sixth to account for the game's final score.

For the evening, Belhaven finished with a dozen base hits. In the pitcher's circle, Julienne Broussard went the distance for the complete-game victory. She scattered 10 hits over seven innings, giving up six runs (four earned) and two walks. She struck out three hitters.

ETBU hosts Belhaven for two more games on Saturday afternoon, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.