Box Score
Jackson, MS-The Belhaven baseball team held off Mississippi College at Smith-Wills Stadium Tuesday night posting a 7-5 win over the Choctaws. The Blazers, ranked 23rd in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, scored the first seven runs of the game and withstood a comeback bid by Mississippi College to take home the victory.

Belhaven (29-11) exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning off Choctaw starter Craig Mackay. Tyler Wrinkle ripped the first of his two doubles of the game driving a pitch into left field. Jimmy Gilford followed with a walk, Lake Eiland singled, and then Paul Moreno put the Blazers on the board with a bases loaded RBI single. Derek Tortorich picked up two runs batted in on a single to left field to make it a 3-0 contest. Moreno would score on a passed ball by catcher Jacob Daniel and Matt Discon capped the inning with a run scoring single up the middle that chased home Tortorich.

The Blazers added to their 5-0 edge in the fourth with two more runs on four hits. Ryan Saunders got things going with a base hit and later came in on Gilford's base hit to right field. Eiland collected the second RBI of the inning thanks to a single to right plating Wrinkle who had reached on a base hit earlier in the frame. The two runs gave the Blazers what looked to be a comfortable 7-0 lead through the first four innings.

Mississippi College (15-12) tallied their first run in the fifth on a fielder's choice by Andy Smith that plated Mike Kerdock who had been hit by a pitch with one out in the inning. Jordan Brewer had a costly error in the inning that gave the Choctaws an extra out enabling the run to score. Mississippi College finally got to Belhaven starter Brandon McHenry in the sixth and trimmed the deficit to two at 7-5 with four runs. Brett Hightower picked up two runs batted in on a single to right drive McHenry from the game. Jordan Scott came in from the bullpen and walked Kerdock to load the bases. Jeremy Simmons then hit into a fielder's choice to plate a run and Hightower scored on a throwing error by Scott for the fourth run of the frame.

However, the Belhaven bullpen settled in and held off Mississippi College for the final three innings. The Choctaws threatened one more time in the game putting the tying run at second base with one out in the seventh inning, but Jon Patino struck out Clay Crosswhite and induced a popup from Hightower to get out of the jam.

The Blazers were led on offense by Tortorich who had three hits and two runs batted in. Wrinkle had three hits as well including two doubles and two runs scored giving him a team high 13 doubles this season. Eiland and Moreno had two hits and an RBI each while Gilford and Discon each had a hit and an RBI. Saunders pounded out two hits including his third double of the season. As a team, Belhaven slugged 14 hits with three going for extra bases.

McHenry earned the win on the mound pitching five innings allowing five runs on seven hits to go to 4-1. McHenry walked one and struck out one with two of the five runs being unearned. Josh Clarke recorded his seventh save of the season by firing a scoreless ninth inning. Clarke did not give up a hit while walking one and striking out one.

The Choctaws were paced at the plate by Shane Bennett and Benton with two hits apiece. Brett Hightower had a hit and two runs batted in. Andy Smith had a double and an RBI while Stuart Magee and Spencer Brunson each had singles. Mackay started for Mississippi Colllege and went the first 3.1 innings giving up all seven runs on 11 hits. Mackay was tagged with the loss and falls to 2-1 on the season.

Belhaven will be back in action Wednesday night when they host NCAA Division II Arkansas-Monticello in non conference game beginning at 6:00 PM. Fans can follow all the live play-by-play action through live audio and stats courtesy of Stretch Internet by clicking here.