Box Score Game 1     Box Score Game 2
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven baseball team opened the 2011 season on Saturday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium sweeping a doubleheader against Blue Mountain College by the final scores of 9-0 in game one and 10-0 in game two. The Blazer pitching staff limited the Toppers to a combined seven hits while the Belhaven offense pounded out 21 hits in 14 innings of play.

Game One
The first game of Saturday's doubleheader was a pitcher's duel through the first five innings. The Blazers were able to scratch together their first run in the second inning on a one out bases loaded single by Ryan Saunders that plated Anthony Doss who led off the inning with a base hit. Belhaven had a golden opportunity to put more runs on the board, but a pop up by Derek Tortorich and a Matt Discon strikeout ended the frame.

Belhaven came back with another run in the bottom of the fifth when Jimmy Gilford came through with a clutch two out RBI single that made in a 2-0 game. Then in the sixth the Blazers broke the game open with seven runs off pitchers John Paul Barber and Blake Jolly. Tom Wertz brought in the first run of the inning on a base hit followed by a Williamson sacrifice fly that cashed in two more runs. Tortorich and Discon ripped back to back RBI triples and then Doss capped the scoring with an RBI fielder's choice which sent Gilford home.

Brett Blaise worked the first six innings in his Belhaven debut and allowed only four hits while striking out five to earn the win. Alan McHenry, who is back after battling injuries a season ago tossed the final inning and did not allow a run. Drew Dillard, Doss, and Saunders each had two hits to pace Belhaven at the plate in the first game. Seven different Blazers had at least one run batted in led by Williamson with two while Discon, Gilford, Doss, Wertz, Saunders, and Tortorich tallied one RBI each.

Jon Paul Barber suffered the loss for Blue Mountain as he pitched the first five plus innings allowing five runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out three. Jolly was charged with four runs on five hits and walked one batter in one inning of work. Seth Kennedy and Dustin Lunn each had two hits apiece in game one for the Toppers and Channing Walker recorded the other base hit in Blue Mountain's inaugural game.

Game Two
Belhaven picked up right where they left off at the plate in game two of the day scoring three times in the bottom of the first inning. The Blazers capitalized on a costly error by shortstop Mathew Kirk that could have potentially been a double play to end the inning. Thanks to the extra outs, Discon scored on a wild pitch and Tyler Wrinkle chased home two more runs with a two out single to make it a 3-0 game.

Blue Mountain could never recover from that point on as Belhaven essentially put the game to rest with five more runs in the second inning expanding the lead to 8-0. All the runs came after two men were out on RBI singles by Lake Eiland and Doss followed by a two run triple off the bat of Dillard. Dillard then scored the final run of the inning when he scampered home from third base on a wild pitch. The Blazers added insurance runs in the third inning on a RBI triple by Alex Riser and in the fourth Dillard sent home Eiland on a ground ball that was misplayed by the third baseman pushing the lead to 10-0 which would eventually be the final score in seven innings.

Allen Johnson was lights out on the mound in his Belhaven debut as he went the first five innings surrendering only two infield singles. Johnson walked one and struck out three en route to his first win of the season. Nick Meekins worked an inning of relief and did not allow a hit and Graham Upshaw finished out the game pitching a scoreless seventh with two walks and a pair of strikeouts. At the dish, Belhaven was led by Dillard in the RBI category with three. Wrinkle picked up two runs batted in followed by Eiland, Doss, and Riser with one each. Eiland and Doss both had two hits and two runs scored. In two games, Belhaven ripped four triples and had five total extra base hits in the game. Belhaven had 40 triples and 135 doubles as a team last season.

B.J. Johnson took the loss for Blue Mountain as he gave up all 10 runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Only six of the runs were earned due to three Topper errors. Zane Treadway logged two innings in relief surrendering two hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Walker and Kirk had the only two hits in the game the Toppers on infield singles.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon when they entertain Freed-Hardeman University at Smith-Wills Stadium starting at 3:00 PM. All the play-by-play action can be followed through live audio and stats via Stretch Internet by clicking here.