Box Score
JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team wrapped up Green and Gold weekend with a convincing 15-4 Southern States Athletic Conference win over Southern Wesleyan University in game three of the series Saturday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers swept their third straight SSAC series after picking up 3-0 and 12-2 victories on Friday night. Belhaven is on a roll having won 12 of the last 13 games.

Belhaven (24-12, 10-5 SSAC) scored at least one run in every inning except the fourth leading to a season high 15 runs. The Blazers ignited the offense in the first and led from start to finish thanks to a two out two run home run by catcher Kyle Wheeler. Southern Wesleyan (11-19, 4-11 SSAC) threatened in the top of the first by loading the bases, but Jonathan Thompson worked out the jam, possibly changing the complexion of the game.

The Warriors did strike back for a run in the second on a leadoff home run by shortstop Clint Clymer, cutting the lead to 2-1. However, Belhaven countered with two more runs in the home half of the second when DH Hamilton Harper scored on a wild pitch followed by an RBI single from second baseman Ryne Cook.

Leading 4-1, first baseman Bud Britt launched his seventh home run of the season over the left field wall in the third to make it a 5-1 game. The Blazers then added two more runs in the fifth on a ground ball to short by Wheeler and a sac fly from right fielder Emilio DeSilva.

Southern Wesleyan plated a run in the sixth on a fielder's choice by right fielder Kendall Ray to make the score 7-2, but once again Belhaven had an answer in the home half of the frame. With two outs, left fielder Dominick Francia singled to right and Cook double to left center chasing home Francia from first base.

The Warriors scored another run in the seventh and the eighth but it would be too little too late. After adding a run in the seventh on another sac fly by DeSilva, the Blazers broke the game open in the eighth with six runs to enact the 10 run rule. Belhaven was aided by an error charged to second baseman Danny Diaz who dropped the ball on a potential force play resulting in four of the six runs being unearned.

Wheeler cashed in the first run on a sac fly to left field and Britt immediately followed with a two run double to left center. Then with two outs and runners on first and third, Harper ended the game with a three homer over the wall in right field. For Harper it was his second round tripper of the season and third for Belhaven in the game.

Thompson pitched 6.1 innings and took home his second win of the season. Thompson (2-1) allowed three runs on eight hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Andrew Gunn pitched 0.2 innings and Robert Marzoni tossed the eighth frame on Saturday.

Multiple Blazers had big days at the plate, led by Britt who went 4 for 4 with three doubles, a home run and three runs batted in. Cook had three hits including two doubles and two RBI followed by Harper with two hits and three RBI. Wheeler drove in four runs on two hits and Francia collected two hits and scored three runs. As a team, Belhaven had six doubles, three home runs, and 14 total hits.

JJ Julian suffered the loss for Southern Wesleyan and falls to 1-2 on the season. Julian logged 4.1 innings and gave up seven runs on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Clymer had two hits including a home run to lead the Warriors at the plate. Left fielder Michael Hyman also had two hits and a run scored.

Belhaven will be back in action on Tuesday night at Smith-Wills Stadium when the team hosts Mississippi College in a Maloney series matchup. The Blazers are 3-0 in Maloney series play, including an 8-4 win against the Choctaws in Clinton on February 19th. Tuesday's first pitch is slated for 6:00 PM.