Box Score
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven baseball team took game one of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference Cross Division series with Truett-McConnell College Friday night at Smith-Wills Stadium by the final of 3-1. Blazer catcher Derek Tortorich smashed a two out two run home run over the wall in left field in the bottom of the ninth off of relief pitcher Kirby Alls to secure the win.

Friday night's game was a classic pitcher's duel as both starters kept the hitters off balance for the majority of the game. Belhaven (17-5) could only muster two hits through the first seven innings off of Truett-McConnell's Matt Hill. The only two hits were a single by Tortorich in the second and a base hit by Tyler Wrinkle in the third. Blazer starter Allen Johnson gave up his first hit with one out in the ninth as Brad Mills broke up a no hit bid with a single to center field.

Belhaven finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth to take a 1-0 lead. With one out, second baseman Matt Discon walked and then Wrinkle picked up his second hit of the night with a bunt single up the third base line. Truett-McConnell (14-7) then brought in Jared Williams from the bullpen who proceeded to get Jimmy Gilford out on a fly ball to deep center. Pinch runner Dillon Berry tagged up and went to third base putting runners on the corners with two outs. Shortstop Lake Eiland then came up with the first clutch hit of the night as he lined a two strike two out single off of Alls to left field chasing in Berry for the go ahead run.

In the top of the ninth, the Bears evened up the score at 1-1 as Mills singled with one out driving Johnson from the game. Josh Clarke came in from the bullpen and gave up a base hit to right fielder Brian York and an RBI ground out to second base by catcher Buck Harris drove in pinch runner Chad Fulton from third base.

Belhaven bounced back in the ninth with right fielder Drew Dillard opening the inning with a single to center field and then pinch hitter Tom Wertz moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Alex Riser grounded out to short for the second out leaving it up to Tortorich to try and win the game. Tortorich did not disappoint driving a 1-1 pitch from Alls over the wall in left for the game winner.

Johnson pitched 8.1 innings allowing just one run on one hit with two walks and nine strikeouts getting a no decision in the game. Clarke (2-0) got credit for the win as he went 0.2 innings giving up one hit while striking out one. At the plate for Belhaven, Tortorich led the way going 2 for 4 in the game with two runs batted in on his second home run of the year. Tortorich now has 11 RBI's this season. Wrinkle also collected two hits and Eiland had one hit and one run batted in. As a team, Belhaven had six hits and three errors in the contest.

Hill started on the mound for Truett-McConnell and went the first 7.1 innings allowing one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out four. Alls takes the loss as he pitched one inning allowing two runs on three hits dropping his record to 0-1. Mills and York had the only two hits for the Bears.

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium in doubleheader with Truett-McConnell beginning at 1:00 PM. Fans can follow all the play-by-play action and live stats through Stretch Internet by clicking here.