HATTIESBURG, Miss. --  The Embry-Riddle softball team got a strong performance from its pitching staff, but was unable to capitalize on holding Belhaven scoreless through seven innings, falling to Belhaven 2-0 in eight innings, Saturday at William Carey's Joseph & Nancy Fail Field. The Eagles are now 5-11 on the year, while the Blazers improved to 12-2.

Melanie Lee got the start for the Blue and Gold in the Eagles' second game of the day and held the Blazers scoreless through her four innings pitched, including working out of a bases-loaded jam in the third. Robi Zimmerman came in to relieve Lee in the fifth and kept the shutout going over the next three innings, setting down nine of the 10 batters she face during that stretch.

The Blazers' starter Jessica Paris matched the Eagles' pitching performance giving up three hits and holding the ERAU hitters scoreless through seven frames to send the game into extra innings.

Playing according to the international tiebreak rule, the Blazers started the eighth inning with a runner on second. The runner, Denee Crawford, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on Katy Adair's single to right to put Belhaven up 1-0. After Courtney Fairley ground out to record the Blazers' second out of the inning, Mandy Fuller doubled through the left side to send Adair across and add an insurance run for Belhaven.

Jori Walan started the ERAU half of the eighth on second, but was unable to advance as Belhaven recorded three straight outs to take the win.

The Eagles will return to action on Sunday to take on tournament host and seventh-ranked William Carey in doubleheader. The first game of the twin bill is slated for 3 p.m. (CDT).