Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven baseball team notched two key Southern States Athletic Conference West Division wins over Faulkner University Saturday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25, took game one 8-2 and then followed that up with an 8-4 victory in the night cap. The victories push Belhaven into second place in the SSAC West division and gave the Blazers a much need SSAC series victory two games to one after falling in the opener 3-2 Friday night.

Game One
Belhaven (28-11, 7-5 SSAC) started slow in game one and fell behind 1-0 when Faulkner plated a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Daniel Cayton. The Blazers answered in the bottom of the inning with four runs after two men were out to grab the lead. Catcher Derek Tortorich got the rally going with a double down the left field line sending Jimmy Gilford to third base. Gilford had walked to begin the inning, but was stuck at first base until the Tortorich double. Matt Discon then stepped to the plate and delivered what arguably was the hit of the day driving a two run single to right center field to make it a 2-1 contest. Drew Dillard followed with an RBI double and Ryan Saunders capped the inning with a run scoring single that extended the edge to 4-1.

Belhaven then added two more runs in the fifth inning as Tyler Wrinkle crossed the plate when catcher Matt Darr fired the ball into center trying to throw out Gilford on a stolen base attempt. Paul Moreno cashed in Gilford on a sacrifice fly to center field to make it a 6-1 game. Faulkner (29-9, 5-4 SSAC) came back with a run in the sixth on another RBI base hit by Cayton, but Belhaven countered with two more scores in the bottom of the frame to take command 8-2 going into the seventh and final inning. This time, Wrinkle came up with the clutch two out hit singling home courtesy runner Josiah Richard and Matt Discon in the sixth.

Belhaven was led at the plate in game one by Discon who went 2 for 2 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Wrinkle was two for three with two runs batted in, Dillard had a double with an RBI and a run scored, Saunders notched a hit and had an RBI, and Gilford had a hit and two runs scored. Allen Johnson pitched a complete game for Belhaven allowing two runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out seven to go to 3-3 on the season.

Cayton carried the Eagles offense going 2 for 2 at the dish with two runs batted in. Michael Clayton went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles and a run scored. Jacob Simmons (6-2) was tagged with the loss as he logged 4.2 innings allowing six runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Casey Wilson tossed one inning and was charged with the other two Blazer runs.

Game Two
The Blazers fell behind again in game two spotting Faulkner a run in the top of the first inning on a Clayton RBI double down the left field line. However, in the bottom of the second inning, Belhaven vaulted ahead scoring three times off starting pitcher Jason Rodriguez. Moreno led off with a single and then Tortorich walked to put runners on first and second setting the table again for Discon who tripled to right field plating both runners. Dillard sent in Discon with a double to center field making it a 3-1 game in favor of the Blazers.

In the fourth, Belhaven loaded the bases and Alex Riser produced two more runs with a single to center field extending the lead to 5-1. In the top of the fifth, Faulkner tried to mount a comeback by loading the bases with nobody out against starting pitcher Brett Blaise. Jon Patino came in from the bullpen and issued a walk to John Gunnels and then gave up a sacrifice fly to Clayton. Patino then settled in and got Jonathan Gober to line into a double play to end the inning and change the complexion of the game.

Belhaven added a run in the fifth when Gilford tripled and scored on a throwing error by Gober. In the eighth inning, Lake Eiland singled to center and Tortorich hammered a double down the right field line to send him home. Dillard then picked up his second RBI of the game thanks to a sacrifice fly that chased in Moreno who had walked earlier in the inning. The Eagles tallied their last run of the game on a leadoff home run from Cayton in the ninth, but Josh Clarke closed the door following the Cayton blast to secure an 8-4 Blazer victory.

Discon had a big day for Belhaven going 2 for 2 at the plate in game two with two runs scored and two runs batted in. He had identical numbers in the first game and for the day notched four hits, four RBI's and four runs scored. Dillard pounded out two hits and had two runs batted in followed by Riser with one hit and two RBI's. Tortorich was one for two and drove in a run while Wrinkle, Gilford, Eiland, and Moreno had a hit apiece.

Patino (3-2) was credited with the win in relief by logging one inning without surrendering a run or a hit. Blaise started the game and pitched four plus innings allowing three runs on three hits. Blaise walked four and struck out six for the no decision. Kiel Higginbotham and Golden Grasse pitched a scoreless inning each and Clarke picked up his sixth save of the season with two innings of relief work on the mound. Clarke gave up one run on the home run to Cayton while walking one and striking out three.

Rodriguez (3-1) was tagged with the loss for Faulkner after allowing five runs on five hits in three innings of work. Cayton was 3 for 3 at the dish with an RBI for the Eagles and Clayton picked up a pair of RBI's thanks to one hit in the game.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Mississippi College for a Maloney Series game at 6:00 PM. Fans can catch all the action through live audio courtesy of Stretch Internet by clicking here.