Box Score
Jackson, MS-The Maloney Series Trophy belongs to the Belhaven baseball team for the second consecutive season thanks to an 8-7 come from behind victory over Mississippi College Tuesday night at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers, ranked 25th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, trailed the entire night until the bottom of the ninth inning when they scored two runs to post the win. Lake Eiland had the game winning hit driving a two out single to right field plating Drew Dillard from second base.

Belhaven (37-14) fell behind in the second inning when Mississippi College (20-15) put two runs on the board in the top of the frame. Brandon Benton led off the inning with his sixth home run of the year and with two outs Andy Smith lined an RBI base to left. Belhaven countered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Dillard grounded into a double play sending Ryan Saunders in from third base to make it a 2-1 game.

Each team recorded a run in the third inning with the Choctaws scoring on an RBI single by Clay Crosswhite. In the bottom of third with two outs, Eiland blasted his second home run of the season over the left center field wall to cut the deficit to 3-2. Mississippi College added three unearned runs in the top of the fourth after a costly error by Eiland gave the Choctaws an extra out. Spencer Brunson drove in a run on a single up the middle, Smith came in on a passed ball, and Shane Bennett had an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-2.

In the fifth, Belhaven scratched together two runs beginning with a fielder's choice off the bat of Saunders that chased home a run. Matt Discon then singled with two outs to drive in the second run of the inning. The Blazers pulled to within one run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Eiland to make it a 6-5 game. Belhaven then gave another run back in the seventh when first baseman Dillon Berry committed an error to extend the inning. Stuart Magee took advantage with a run scoring single to right field. Four of the Choctaw runs in the game were unearned due to the two errors on the night.

Belhaven got the run back in the bottom of the eighth as Derek Tortorich worked a bases loaded walk to drive in a run. Bennett, who had came in to pitch after the walk to Tortorich, struck out pinch hitter Alex Riser with the bases loaded to keep Mississippi College in front 7-6 heading into the ninth. Belhaven relief pitcher Nick Meekins kept the Choctaws off the board in the top of ninth giving the Blazer bats a chance to rally in the their half of the inning.

Discon set the tone leading off the bottom of the ninth with his fifth triple of the season off the right center field wall. Dillard followed with an infield single and then Paul Moreno tied up the game with a sacrifice fly to left as Discon came in to score from third. Jordan Brewer moved Dillard to second on a bunt single, but Bennett struck out Jimmy Gilford on a 3-2 pitch for the second out. Eiland then stepped to the plate and this time on a 3-2 pitch lined the game winning hit to right field chasing home Dillard for the deciding run.

Eiland finished the game with three runs batted in and was 2 for 5 at the plate for the Blazers. Anthony Doss and Discon each had three hits with Discon collecting an RBI. Saunders, Gilford, and Brewer all had two hits apiece followed by Dillard who chipped in with one hit in the contest. Tortorich, Saunders, and Moreno all had one run batted in on the night. As a team, Belhaven pounded out 15 hits including a home run by Eiland, a triple by Discon, and doubles by Gilford and Doss.

Brandon McHenry started the game on the mound and pitched the first 3.2 innings allowing six runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Only three of the six runs charged to McHenry were earned. Sean Kelley tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball followed by Graham Upshaw, Jon Patino, and Meekins who all logged one inning. The Choctaws managed only one unearned run off the Blazers bullpen. Meekins ended up earning the win in relief to go to 2-0 this season by pitching a scoreless ninth.

Mississippi College was led at the plate by Brunson and Benton who each had two hits and a run batted in. Smith, Bennett, Crosswhite, and Magee all had one hit and a run batted in while Chad Wooten and Mike Kerdock each recorded a hit. As a team, the Choctaws had 10 total hits which included a double and home run by Benton. Mississippi College used nine different pitchers in the game and Bennett ended up taking the loss as he was charged with two runs on four hits in one inning of work. Bennett's record drops to 1-1 on the season with the setback.

Belhaven will be back in action on Friday night when they open a three game Southern States Athletic Conference West Division series against rival William Carey beginning at 6:00 PM. Friday's night's game will be video streamed on the SSAC website and fans can access the broadcast by clicking here. Saturday's doubleheader will start at 1:00 PM and all proceeds from the games will go the American Cancer Society. Former Blazer pitcher Riley Galloway will throw out the ceremonial first pitch in honor of his father Jim Galloway who passed away in the fall due to cancer. Both games of Saturday's twin bill can be heard courtesy of Stretch Internet by clicking here.