Box Score
CLINTON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team wrapped up the 2013 Maloney Series schedule with a perfect 6-0 record thanks to a 4-3 win Tuesday night at Mississippi College. The Blazers, who are ranked 21st in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, picked up their third win of the season over the Choctaws after coming out on top in 8-4 and 7-6 decisions earlier in the season.

Belhaven (35-17) took the lead in the second inning plating two runs while adding solo runs in the third and fourth innings. With one out in the second, catcher Kyle Wheeler walked against Blake Mcilwain and then center fielder Reagan Rutledge launched his first home run of the season over the wall in right to make it a 2-0 game.

In the third, left fielder Dominick Francia reached first on a fielder's choice with one out, stole second, and moved to third on a fly out to right field by second baseman Ryne Cook. Third baseman Jason Hicks came up with a clutch two out RBI single to right and extended the Blazers lead to 3-0.

Rutledge would answer the bell again in the fourth with his third run batted in of the night. Wheeler walked to open the inning and went to second on a costly wild pitch by relief pitcher Zac Tucker. Rutledge then slammed what would turn out to be the game winning hit to center driving in Wheeler from second base.

Leading 4-0, Belhaven had to hold back Mississippi College (17-22) who began to chip away at the lead. The Choctaws answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI triple by shortstop Robbie Jernigan followed by a run scoring single off the bat of center fielder Hunter Frierson.

Mississippi College's comeback appeared to be taking shape in the sixth when the first four batters reached to start the inning. Right fielder Pate Shackelford reached on an error by Cook at second followed by a walk to first baseman Will Sanders and a base hit by DH Rob Thames. Relief pitcher Austin McCann then hit catcher Brandon Vickery with the bases loaded to plate Shackelford from third.

Without an out recorded in the inning, Andrew Gunn was summoned from the bullpen and pitched the Blazers out of a major jam. Gunn struck out Jernigan and Frierson before getting third baseman Murphy Buggs to hit into an inning ending fielder's choice to keep the Belhaven lead at 4-3. Gunn went on to pitch a scoreless seventh before turning it over to the back end of the bullpen to close out the game.

Gunn was credited with the win after his two inning no hit performance on Tuesday night. Gunn also recorded three strikeouts in improving his record to 6-1. Josh Rogers picked up his fourth save out of the bullpen, tossing a scoreless ninth by striking out the side.

At the plate, Rutledge led the way with two hits and three runs batted in followed by Cook who also had two hits on the night. Hicks went 1 for 3 and had the other Belhaven RBI. Francia did not collect a hit, but chalked up another stolen base giving him 41 on the season which ties him with Rutledge for the team high.

Mississippi College was led by Thames who turned in a multi hit game with a 2 for 3 night at the plate. Jernigan and Frierson both had one hit and one run batted in. The Choctaws outhit the Blazers 7-6.

Mcilwain (1-2) pitched one inning and suffered the loss, allowing two runs on one hit with a walk and one strikeout.

The Blazers will now turn their attention to William Carey who comes to Smith-Wills Stadium for a key Southern States Athletic Conference three games series starting Thursday night. Belhaven is tied with the Crusaders for third place in the SSAC standings.

Thursday night's pitch is slated for 6:00 PM.