Box Score
JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team bounced back from a 4-1 loss on Tuesday with a 7-4 victory Wednesday night over top ranked Tennessee Wesleyan College at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers earned a split in the two game mid-week series and own some momentum heading into a crucial three game Southern States Athletic Conference series at Loyola University (NO) starting Friday.

Things looked bleak early for Belhaven when the Bulldogs took the lead in the top of the second inning. Shortstop Wes Minton doubled in two runs with two outs off relief pitcher Josh Rogers to make it a 2-0 game. However, Rogers was instrumental in not letting the game get out of hand in the first when he inherited a bases loaded jam and struck out three straight batters to keep Tennessee Wesleyan off the board.

The Bulldogs then tacked on another run in the top of the third when catcher Brackton Smith doubled, stole third and came home on a throwing error by pitcher Avery Johnson.

Trailing 3-0, Belhaven (13-11) countered with a run in the home half of the inning when catcher Kyle Wheeler launched a single to left field that chased home center fielder Reagan Rutledge slicing the gap to 3-1.

The Blazers knotted the game in the bottom of the fourth with the aid of only one hit. However, Belhaven took advantage of two Tennessee Wesleyan errors leading to both runs being unearned. Second baseman Ryne Cook lined a single to left to open the frame and then left fielder Joshua Bouldin reached base on a Minton error.

With runners at first and second, right fielder Caleb Baucum dropped down a sacrifice bunt and in an effort to get Cook at third, pitcher Brent Adheen uncorked an errant throw allowing Cook to cross the plate. Tyler Wilson came in from the bullpen to strike out shortstop Josiah Richard, but Rutledge would tie the game at 3-3 by driving in Bouldin on a squeeze bunt.

Two innings later, Belhaven took control of the game in the sixth scoring four times to grab a 7-3 edge. Cook and Bouldin opened the inning with a single and walk respectively as both runners would eventually score. Cook crossed the plate on a wild pitch and Bouldin stole home on a double steal with Rutledge taking second base on the play. Rutledge made it in on another error by Minton on a ball hit by first baseman Emilio DeSilva and then Wheeler capped the inning with an RBI base hit to drive in DeSilva.

Tennessee Wesleyan (15-6) mustered just one more run after the third inning and it was a solo tally in the top of the ninth. Belhaven's pitching staff, which has been strong over the last few games teamed up for another solid outing on Wednesday.

Chris Good tossed two innings in relief and took home the win for Belhaven, moving his record to 6-2. Good gave up just one hit and did not walk a batter in the sixth and seventh innings. Cook ended the night 3 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored while Wheeler was 2 for 3 with two runs batted in. DeSilva also collected two of Belhaven's seven hits in the game. Belhaven turned in eight stolen bases with DeSilva collecting three of them.

Wilson suffered the loss for the Bulldogs, allowing four runs on two hits in 2.2 innings of work. The loss dropped his record to 2-2. Minton produced two hits and two runs batted in followed by second baseman Branded Walker with two hits and two runs scored, leading Tennessee Wesleyan at the dish.

The Blazers will now turn their attention back to the SSAC with three games at Loyola this weekend. Game one of the series on Friday night is scheduled for 6:00 PM.