Box Score
Jackson, TN-The Belhaven baseball team bounced back from a loss on Tuesday at Bethel by scoring 14 runs while pounding out 20 hits in a 14-5 victory at Union University (TN) on Wednesday afternoon. It was a season high for most hits in a game and it was the second highest run total of the 2011 year. The Blazers also raised their team batting average from .294 to .303 thanks to Wednesday's performance.

Belhaven (20-6) fell behind early as Union struck first with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Kevin Kirksey doubled down the left field line to open the frame and then was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Grimm. Kirksey came across the plate on a sacrifice fly to left center field by Clint Barnes to make it a 1-0 game.

Belhaven set the tone for the rest of the day as they answered with five runs in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Saunders brought in the first Blazer run with a ground ball to first base which was misplayed by Kirsey allowing Saunders to reach safely. Anthony Doss scored the run after having opened the inning with a double. Derek Tortorich then stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and cashed in two runs with a double to right center putting Belhaven up 3-1. Tyler Wrinkle and Jimmy Gilford capped things off with RBI singles and the Blazers found themselves up 5-1 after three and a half innings.

Belhaven kept Union (18-4) off the board in the bottom of the fourth and the offense went back to work in the top of the fifth with three more runs. Paul Moreno got things rolling with a leadoff single to center followed by a sac bunt from Matt Discon that moved him to second. Alex Riser singled and on the Bulldogs third error of the game Moreno was able to score. Later in the inning, Tom Wertz tripled in courtesy runner Justin Hill and Wrinkle chased home Wertz on a single to right field.

Leading 8-1, Belhaven added two more runs in the sixth on an RBI triple by Doss and a runs scoring single to left center off the bat of Moreno. The inning began with a double from Lake Eiland who scored on the Doss triple. Union cut the lead to 10-3 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth as Doug Joyce had an RBI fielder's choice and Kian Jost lifted a sac fly to right field which produced the other run. Kiel Higginbotham did a solid job limiting the damage to just the two runs after Union had two straight singles off Mark Husband to begin the inning.

Neither team scored in the seventh, but the Blazers tacked on four more runs in the top of the eighth to build a commanding 14-3 lead. Discon picked up an RBI on a ground out to first base, Saunders had a bases loaded two run single to right field, and Wrinkle singled home the fourth run of the inning. The Bulldogs avoided the run rule with two runs in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI groundout by Joyce and a wild pitch by Sean Kelly allowed Cole McAdams to cross the plate.

Belhaven was led at the dish by Doss who had four hits including two doubles and one triple. Doss also scored three times and picked up an RBI in the win. Paul Moreno added four hits as well with two runs scored and a run batted in. Tom Wertz had his best game of the season going 3 for 4 at the plate with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI. Saunders had two hits and three runs batted in and Wrinkle finished the game with two hits and two runs batted in. Tortorich had another double and two RBI's and now has a team high eight doubles on the year. Eiland picked up two more hits including his fifth double of the season. As a team, Belhaven had five doubles and two more triples giving them 19 three baggers on the season and 48 doubles in 2011.

Higginbotham (1-0) earned the win in relief pitching two scoreless innings surrendering just one hit in the game. Jon Patino started the game for Belhaven and pitched 3.1 innings allowing one run on one hit. He walked one and struck out five. Husband made his third appearance of the season pitching 1.2 innings surrendering two runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout. Kelly gave up two runs on two hits in one inning of work and Jordan Scott pitched a scoreless ninth inning.

Cole McAdams had a 3 for 4 afternoon to pace the Bulldogs at the plate. Bryan Hill was 2 for 4 and Joyce had two runs batted in. Barnes and Jost each chipped in with one RBI in the contest. Derek Roof started the game for Union (18-4) and pitched the first 3.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. The loss was charged to Ruff dropping his record to 3-1 this season. Matt Fike pitched 1.1 innings and gave up three runs while Justin Bryan tossed the last four innings and was charged with six runs on nine hits.

Belhaven will be back in action on Friday night when they open a three game Southern States Athletic Conference West Division Series against the University of Mobile at Smith-Wills Stadium beginning at 6:00 PM. Fans can follow all the live play-by-play through audio and live stats by clicking here.