MARSHALL, Texas – A heavy-weight battle of the two top teams in NCAA Division III took place in front of over 1,000 fans in the first game of the National Championship Series between no. 2 East Texas Baptist University and no. 10 Belhaven University. Coming down to just one inning of scoring, Belhaven re-took the lead in fifth inning, 4-3, holding onto the victory in game one.
"That's what you want a championship series to look like. You want it to be a dog fight and a close game and that's definitely what it was," said head coach
Janae Shirley. "I was pleased with our team as they put up a good fight and really seeing the ball and moving it well today. Sometimes you don't get the breaks you need. Everyday I choose this team and our staff and I am incredibly proud of the fight they put out there today."
ETBU was handed their first loss since April 6 ending their 23-game winning streak. It was also their first loss at home in 2024 even though they were playing as the visiting team in game one.
Four players all had one hit each for ETBU in
Tristen Maddox,
Haylie Stum,
Emma Bell, and
Izabella Morales. Maddox led the team with three RBI with a three-run home run.
Avery Holland took her first loss of the year and is now 15-1. She went six innings allowing four earned runs with three strikeouts.
Belhaven struck first in the bottom of the second inning for the 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded and one out, a wild pitch allowed the Blazers to come in and score the first run. ETBU didn't get their first hit off of Belhaven until the fourth inning when Stum singled to left field with two outs. Belhaven made it 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-out single to left field bringing in the second run of the game.
The fifth inning became the key to the game. After the first out in the top of the inning, Morales singled to left field and then stole second.
Shelby Navarrete was hit by the pitch and then pinch-run for by
Mallory Pyle.
Mary Frances Ellis moved the runners over on a sac but putting them in scoring position.
It didn't take long for ETBU to take the lead after a visit to the circle from Belhaven. Maddox swung at the first pitch sending it over the right field wall for a 3-2 lead with two outs. The next batter flew out but ETBU took the one-run lead.
Belhaven came right back at ETBU in the bottom of the inning. A walk followed by a single put two runners on with no outs. After a sac bunt moved both runners up bases, the next batter singled up the middle scoring two runs for the lead, 4-3. Holland struck out the next batter and the inning finished with a ground out but the Blazers took the momentum back.
The Blazers then retired the next six batters to take the win and advantage in the Championship Series, 1-0.
ETBU and Belhaven will play game two on Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. with the if-game to follow at 1:30 p.m.
