Box Score
Franklin Springs, GA-The Belhaven baseball team defeated Emmanuel College Saturday afternoon 13-2 taking the final game of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference cross divisional series against the Lions. The Blazers, ranked 24th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, pounded out 17 hits and played errorless baseball en route to the win. Belhaven won the weekend series 2-1 by splitting a doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

Belhaven (36-14) shot in front in the second inning with two runs to take a 2-0 lead. Paul Moreno ripped a one out double and then scored on a Ryan Saunders single down the left field line. Jimmy Gilford, who would drive in five runs in the game, got his first with a base hit to center plating Saunders. In the fourth, Gilford picked up two more RBI's on a double down the left field line driving in Moreno and Saunders. Lake Eiland capped the inning with a run scoring single up the middle and at that point the Blazers were rolling 5-0.

Emmanuel (25-25) answered with two runs without the aid of a hit in the bottom of the fourth to trim the edge to 5-2. Belhaven starter Alan McHenry walked two batters and hit two more leading to both runs. Kiel Higginbotham was summoned from the bullpen and inherited a bases loaded jam with one out. In what was probably the turning point in the game, Higginbotham got Alex Delgado to foul out to catcher Derek Tortorich and then induced a fly out by Will Gretsch to center field limiting the damage to just the two runs.

Belhaven went on to score three more runs in the fifth on an RBI double by Saunders, a sacrifice fly by Jordan Brewer, and pinch runner Dillon Berry crossed the plate when first baseman Ben Grillo misplayed a ground ball off the bat of Gilford. Leading 8-2 heading into the seventh inning, the Blazers posted two more runs in the frame on RBI singles by Gilford and Eiland extending the score to 10-2. Then in the ninth, Anthony Doss blasted his second home run of the season, which was a two run shot over the wall in center field. Gilford had doubled in another run earlier in the inning as the Blazers went on to post the 13-2 victory.

Belhaven (36-14) was led by Gilford who went 4 for 5 at the plate with five runs batted in. Two of Gilford's hits were doubles giving him 16 on the season. Saunders went 3 for 5 with three RBI's and Paul Moreno was 3 for 5 with three runs scored. Eiland came up with two hits and two runs batted in and Doss had a pair of RBI's on his second home run of the season. Matt Discon added a pair of hits while Drew Dillard and Andrew Gipson chipped in with a hit each as well.

Kiel Higginbotham earned the win in relief firing 3.2 innings without allowing a run or a hit as he improves to 2-0 this season. McHenry started and went the first 3.1 innings surrendering two runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three. Nick Meekins closed the game tossing the final two innings without giving up a run while striking out four.

Eric Esquilin had a hit and an RBI to pace Emmanuel followed by Grillo and Chase Harris who each had one hit. Blaine Seagraves suffered the loss for the Lions pitching 4.2 innings allowing eight runs on 10 hits with four walks and three strikeouts. JoJo Bonet gave up two runs in 2.1 innings and Mario Labrador was charged with three runs on three hits in one inning of work.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday when they host Mississippi College at Smith-Wills Stadium starting at 6:00 PM. Fans can follow all the play-by-play action through live audio and stats courtesy of Stretch Internet by clicking here.