Box Score
Jackson, MS-With the exception of the sixth inning, Belhaven starting pitcher Brandt Hinton was nearly unhittable Friday night leading the Blazers to a 9-4 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference win over Spring Hill College at Smith Wills Stadium. Hinton did not allow a hit through the first 5.1 innings and the Badgers only offense came in the sixth when they scored all four of their runs. Hinton pitched all nine innings en route to his fourth win in 2010.

Belhaven's offense spotted Hinton three runs in the bottom of the first inning off of Spring Hill starting pitcher David Dupuy. Drew Dillard scored the first run when left fielder Ryan Hall misplayed a Jimmy Gilford base hit allowing Dillard to score. Lake Eiland then blasted his second home run of the season over the left field wall plating two more runs to make it a 3-0 Blazer lead. Belhaven (14-3, 7-2 GCAC) then tacked on two more runs in the third as Gilford scored on a throwing error by Dupuy followed by a sacrifice fly off the bat of Timmy Foster.

Leading 5-0, the Blazers continued to add to their advantage with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Belhaven took advantage of some shaky defense by Spring Hill with Dean scoring an unearned run in the fourth on a RBI groundout by Dillard. Paul Moreno accounted for the Blazers run in the fifth with an RBI groundout to first base scoring Brandon Benton. Benton started the fifth with a single and went to third base on a Foster double to straight away center field.

Belhaven appeared to have the game in hand at that point leading 7-0 going into the sixth, but the Badgers had different plans. Hinton got Bobby Voss to ground out to begin the inning, but gave up his first hit of the game to Fred Rossi on an infield single. Spring Hill (12-6, 8-2 GCAC) then reeled off four straight hits and scored four times before Hinton was able to retire the side, bringing the Badgers to within three runs at 7-4.

Hinton stayed focused and made quick work of Spring Hill in the top of the seventh and the Belhaven offense responded with two big insurance runs. Craig Dean drove home the first run on a base hit to left field and eventually crossed the plate himself on a throwing error by the catcher Rossi. Hinton went on to shutdown the Badgers in the eighth and ninth innings to pick up the complete game victory.

The win was Hinton's second complete game of the season as he surrendered four runs on six hits allowing only one walk while striking out six to go to 4-0 this season. Dean had a big night at the plate going three for three with two runs scored and an RBI. Dean and Eiland are now tied for the team lead in runs batted in with 18 following Eiland's two run homer in the first inning. Jimmy Gilford also collected three hits in the game and Foster added two hits and an RBI for the Blazers.

Dupuy suffered the loss for Spring Hill as he went the first five innings allowing seven runs on 10 hits. Brad Holstein, Ryan Cummings, Andy McCall, and Kendell Garvin each had an RBI for the Badgers.

Belhaven will concluded the series on Saturday afternoon in a scheduled twin bill with the Badgers beginning at 1:00 PM. Belhaven will be honoring Head Coach Hill Denson prior to the first pitch of game one for surpassing 1,000 career coaching wins. All the live play-by-play action of both games can be heard via Stretch internet through the Belhaven Athletics website beginning with the pregame show at 12:45 PM.