Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team lost both games of a doubleheader against Bethel University (TN) Saturday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers were tripped up in game one 5-3 and lost game two 7-1 at the hands of the Wildcats. Belhaven salvaged one win in the three game weekend series by taking home a 2-0 win Friday night.

Game One
Belhaven (4-2) entered the day on a four game winning streak, but unfortunately it was snapped in game one. Things looked promising early when the Blazers got to Bethel's ace Gary Ward for two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior catcher Kyle Wheeler drove in sophomore Reagan Rutledge with a single and then with two outs, junior Daniel Gilbert chased home junior Caleb Baucum for a 2-0 lead.

Bethel (2-1) bounced back in the top of the second with two runs when shortstop Michael Brasili scored on a throwing error by Wheeler followed by an RBI single off the bat of catcher Taylor Follis. Belhaven countered in the bottom of the second with a two out RBI double by senior third baseman Jason Hicks. Hicks two bagger to the left center field gap put the Blazers back in front 3-2.

Neither team scored again until the fifth when Bethel struck for three runs to move back in front. With one out, pitcher David Hill walked right fielder Lance Jarreld and then hit first baseman Celtic Rush to put runners on first and second. Left fielder Brian Ferrell singled home Jarreld and then pinch hitter David Gardner ripped a two run double to left field making it a 5-3 game. Belhaven's offense failed to score the rest of the way.

Hill (1-1) suffered the loss in game one, allowing five runs on six hits in 4.1 innings of work. Hicks was the most effective Blazer at the plate, collecting two doubles in three at bats. Belhaven was limited to five hits in the seven inning contest.

Ward went the distance for the Wildcats en route to his first victory of the season. Ward surrendered three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts. Ferrell and Follis led Bethel at the plate with two hits each.

Game Two
Unfortunately, Belhaven's offensive struggles continued in the game two of the doubleheader. The Blazers only run came in the first inning when third baseman Martin Key uncorked a wild throw to first on a ground ball by Baucum. Center fielder Dominick Francia scored after having reached base on a one out single. Francia's run knotted the game at 1-1 after the Wildcats plated a run in the top of the first on a base hit by Ferrell.

In the third, Bethel took the lead for good on a two out home run by Jarreld and then broke the game open in the fourth with five runs. Key had a two run double, second baseman Will Erwin produced a sac fly, catcher Tyler Roberson served an RBI single to right, and Jarreld capped the inning with an RBI triple to right center. Belhaven shortstop Daniel Gilbert also committed a costly error leading to four of the five runs being unearned.

Bethel starting pitcher Joey Wilder along with relievers Hayden Smith and Ryne Fisher held Belhaven in check the rest of the game. The Blazers managed just four hits over the course of nine innings.

Belhaven starter Josh Rogers (1-1) suffered the loss permitting all seven runs in 3.2 innings of work. Only three of the seven runs were earned. Rutledge, Francia, Baucum, and senior first baseman Bud Britt had the only hits for the Blazers.

Wilder tossed seven innings for his first win of the season. He did not give up an earned run while striking out five. Roberson had three hits to pace the Wildcats at the plate while Jarreld and Key each had two RBI's.

Belhaven will look to get back on track Tuesday when the team hosts Tougaloo College at Smith-Wills Stadium starting at 4:00 PM.