Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven baseball team completed a three game Gulf Coast Athletic Conference series sweep at Tougaloo on Saturday afternoon winning both games of a doubleheader at Bulldog Field. The Blazers took game one 8-2 in seven innings and recorded a 13-4 victory in the nine inning night cap. Belhaven opened the series with a 9-6 win over the Bulldogs on Friday afternoon.

Game One
A seven run fifth inning by Belhaven (20-4, 12-2 GCAC) proved to be the difference in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. Tougaloo (2-19, 1-14 GCAC) held a 2-1 lead going into the fifth frame after both teams posted runs in the first inning. The Blazers jumped on top thanks to an RBI single to center by Timmy Foster plating Paul Moreno from second base. However, the Bulldogs fought back in the bottom of the first with two runs of their own. Derrick Singleton shot a bases loaded single up the middle that chased home Henry Green and William Walker to make it 2-1 Tougaloo.

Starting pitcher Matthew Scott and the Bulldogs defense made the lead stand up until the fifth inning when the Blazers took the edge for good. Scott recorded the first two outs, but then ran into some trouble when he gave up a two out single to Lake Eiland keeping the inning alive. Scott then issued four straight walks to Timmy Foster, Derek Tortorich, Brandon Benton, and Kyle Feazell to make the score 3-2 in favor of Belhaven.

Thomas Graham then came in from the bullpen for Tougaloo and hit Craig Dean sending in another run as the bases remained full. The game changing hit was then delivered by Shawn Diehl as he drove a Graham pitch into right field for a two run single. Diehl and Dean also ended up scoring on the play when Myron Gilmore misplayed the ball in right field and suddenly the Blazers found themselves in control at 8-2.

Paul Faulkenberry made his first start of the year for Belhaven and pitched well going the first five innings surrendering two runs on five hits. Faulkenberry walked two and struck out five for the win and is now 3-0 on the season. Alan McHenry tossed the final two innings of game one and did not allow a run or a hit while striking out two.

Foster led the Blazers at the plate going 3 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Diehl was one for three with a pair of runs batted in while Benton, Feazell, and Dean also tallied RBI's in the first game. Benton and John Michael Williamson both had doubles which were the only extra base hits for Belhaven. As a team, Belhaven pounded out 10 hits and did not commit any errors.

Scott took the loss for Tougaloo on the mound pitching the first 4.2 innings allowing six runs on six hits. Scott was hurt by the five walks he issued in the game. Walker had two hits for the Bulldogs while Singleton had the only runs batted in. Tougaloo had a total of five hits and an error in Saturday's first game.

Game Two
The night cap of the doubleheader saw both teams score in their half of the first inning. Belhaven loaded the bases, but a double play ground ball by Foster ended the chance at a big inning. However, the Blazers were still able to get on the board when Moreno stole home to make it a 1-0 game. Tougaloo quickly came back in the bottom of the first with two runs to take the lead. Deron Simpson reached on an error and then Josh Sherman blasted the only home run of the series for either team over the left field fence putting the Bulldogs on top 2-1.

Fortunately for the Blazers, Tougaloo's lead didn't last long as the offense got to work and posted two runs in the top of the second to pull back ahead. Belhaven took advantage of two Bulldog errors and Drew Dillard made them pay with a two run triple to left field giving the Blazers a 3-2 edge. Belhaven made it 5-2 in the third on an RBI single by Foster followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Dean.

The score remained 5-2 until the seventh inning when the Blazers tacked on five more runs to build a commanding 10-2 advantage. Feazell singled home a run followed by a squeeze bunt by Dean that sent home Mark Gray from third base. Diehl followed by lifting a two run single to right field and Moreno capped it off with a sacrifice fly to left. Tougaloo came back with a run in the seventh, but Belhaven eventually put up three more runs in the top of the ninth. Justin Hill and Dean scored on a throwing error by Singleton and Foster brought in the third run with an RBI single to center. Tougaloo added a run in the ninth, but it was too little too late as Belhaven locked up the 13-4 victory.

Ryan Kassab was credited with the win for the Blazers on the mound after working the first six innings of game two. Kassab surrendered two runs on four hits running his record to 4-0. Golden Grasse, Jordan Scott, and Sean Steverson each pitched an inning to close out the game.

Dean, Dillard, Foster, and Diehl all had 2 RBI's to pace the Blazers on offense while Dillard, Eiland, and Foster led the hit parade with two apiece. Belhaven had 10 different players with at least one hit and pounded out a team total of 13 for the game. Eiland and Williamson both ripped doubles and Dillard's triple gave Belhaven a total of three extra base hits in game two.

Michael Spann pitched 3.2 innings and gave up six runs on five hits to fall to 0-4 this season. Spann was also hurt by walks as he issued six free passes in the contest. Sherman and Gilmore both had two hits to lead Tougaloo at the plate. Sherman also had 2 RBI's and Walker accounted for the only other run batted in.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Union University (TN). The first pitch is slated for 4:00 PM and all the live play-by-play action can be heard via Stretch internet through the Belhaven Athletics website beginning with the pregame show at 3:45 PM.