Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
New Orleans, LA-The Belhaven baseball team opened the Southern States Athletic Conference West Division schedule by splitting a doubleheader at Loyola University Friday night. The Blazers struggled in game one and lost 9-5 in nine innings, but came back with a strong 10-0 win in game two that snapped a two game losing skid.

Loyola jumped in front quickly in game one scoring five times in the first two innings. Ryan Scott drove in the first run on a base hit in the first and then in the second the Wolfpack plated four runs with the first coming on a sacrifice fly by Slade Sanders that was dropped in right field by Drew Dillard. Later in the inning, Tyler Duplantis collected a two run single and then Scott double to left plating the fourth run.

Belhaven (13-5, 1-1 SSAC) got on the board with single runs in the third and fourth innings thanks to an RBI single to left by Tyler Wrinkle in the third and a Dillard base hit in the fourth that plated Paul Moreno who led the inning off with a triple down the right field line. Unfortunately, Loyola took control of the game in the fifth with three more runs to make it an 8-2 game at that point. The Wolfpack tacked on another run in the seventh before Belhaven came back with a three late scores in the final two frames. Dillard blasted his second home run of the season in the eighth which was a two run shot to left field. In the ninth, pinch hitter Derek Tortorich dropped an RBI single to center field driving in Justin Hill.

Dillard led Belhaven at the plate going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in. Alex Riser and Ryan Saunders each had doubles and Moreno picked up a triple. Tortorich and Wrinkle had the only other RBI's in the contest for Belhaven. The Blazers had eight total hits and had a couple of more costly errors that led to five unearned runs.

Allen Johnson started on the hill for Belhaven and pitched the first six innings allowing eight runs on 12 hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Only three of the runs charged to Johnson ended up being earned as Johnson falls to 2-2 in 2011. Jordan Scott made his first appearance of the year tossing the final two innings. Scott surrendered a run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Loyola (7-14, 1-1 SSAC) was led by Brandon Snow and Duplantis who each had three hits and two runs batted in. Scott checked in with two hits and a pair of RBI while Domengeaux had two hits and one run batted in. Logan Peterson pitched eight innings for the Wolfpack and was credited with the victory. Peterson gave up five runs on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Carl Labit Jr. closed the game in the ninth giving up just one hit.

Belhaven got back on track in the second game as the Blazers scored 10 runs on the strength of 12 hits. Belhaven didn't waste any time putting a run up in the first as they took advantage of a Loyola error to pull out in front. Slade Sanders dropped a fly ball in center to begin the game allowing Wrinkle to reach base. Later in the inning, Wrinkle crossed the plate on a Moreno sacrifice fly to left field.

The big inning for the Blazers was the fourth when they scored four times to take a 5-0 lead. With two outs, Belhaven had back to back hits by Riser and Tortorich followed by a walk to Saunders that loaded the bases setting the table for Wrinkle. Wrinkle didn't disappoint as he unloaded a grand slam home run over the left field wall to clear the bases. For Wrinkle, it was his second home run of the season while boosting his RBI total to 12 in 2011.

Loyola committed two errors to begin the fifth and once again Belhaven turned both of them into runs extending the lead to 7-0. Riser had an RBI on a sacrifice fly and Jordan Brewer brought in the second score on a base hit to center field. The Blazers then capped the game with three runs in the top of the seventh as Lake Eiland singled home a pair of runners and Moreno got credit for the third RBI of the inning on a base hit with two outs.

Wrinkle led the way for Belhaven with two hits, four RBI and three runs scored out of the leadoff position. Eiland also had two hits, two runs batted in, and a stolen base. Moreno was one for four with an RBI and Riser picked up two hits and an RBI. Gilford and Tortorich each had doubles giving Belhaven three extra base hits in the game.

Brett Blaise pitched well for the Blazers recording a complete game shutout scattering five hits over seven innings. Blaise did not walk a batter and struck out 10 Loyola hitters running his record to 3-1 on the mound this season.

The Wolfpack was limited to just five hits in the second game with Duplantis picking up two of them. Loyola only had one extra base hit and that was a pinch hit double by Greg Bellelo. Trey Campeaux took the loss for Loyola as he surrendered five runs on six hits in 3.2 innings of work on the hill. The loss sends his record to 1-2 for the season.

Belhaven will be back in action weather permitting on Saturday afternoon in game three of the series against Loyola starting at 1:00 PM. Fans can follow the action through live video at the Loyola Athletics website by clicking here.