By Billy Watkins
Another stellar season came to an end Sunday for Belhaven softball.
The Blazers managed just five hits against defending national champion Trine in a semifinal game at the NCAA Division III championship finals in Salem, Va.
Trine also defeated Belhaven in the opening round.
Belhaven finished 44-12.
Trine took the lead on a two-run homer by Karley Trine in the first inning. (Trine is not related to the school’s namesakes.)
Belhaven, the No. 7 seed, sliced the lead in half with a no-doubt homer by Maryanna Guy in the third.
Trine, the No. 2 seed, scored two more in the bottom of the third, then one more in the fifth.
Melissa Lopera, who homered the past two days, doubled to draw Belhaven within 5-2. But the Blazers could come no closer.
In addition to Guy and Lopera, Grace Langston and Maddie Bruner contributed hits.
AR Sharp started in the circle and pitched three innings, allowing four runs and six hits. Macy Funderburk, who won 22 games this season, pitched the final three and allowed one run and one hit.
Belhaven still has much to celebrate. It won the Collegiate Conference of the South championship. It also hosted a regional and super regional for the first time, winning both.
Head coach Kevin Griffin surpassed the 500 career-win mark.
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