JACKSON, Miss. – Belhaven baseball coach Hill Denson picked up his 1,000th collegiate victory on Wednesday after the Blazers defeated Tougaloo College 10-0. As the head coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, Denson won 468 games in 14 seasons, and Wednesday marked his 532nd victory at Belhaven in his 15th season.
 
"Even when you're celebrating, ice baths are still cold," Denson said. "I'm not one for accolades, but this is a special win. I'm incredibly excited, but I'm even more thankful for the people who have been a part of my career to this point."
 
Denson joins the University of Mobile's Mike Jacobs and William Carey University's Bobby Halford as active coaches in the Southern States Athletic Conference with 1,000 wins. Additionally, Denson is in the Hall of Fame at Belhaven and USM, the Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
 
Joey Harris took the hill after no-hitting the Bulldogs earlier this season, and the right hander gave the Blazers another five innings of shutout baseball. Harris allowed just one hit and fanned three before turning things over to the Belhaven bullpen.
 
Right hander CJ Machete tossed the final two innings of the mercy-ruled victory, striking out a pair of Bulldogs along the way. Harris improved to 2-0 on the season, and the Blazers extended their winning streak to five games.
 
Leadoff man Reagan Rutledge paced the Blazers offensively, lining a grand slam to finish his day with a 2-for-4 effort. The only other Belhaven hitter with a multi-hit evening was Will Mullen, while Adam Kowalczyk's third-inning triple was one of two hits for extra bases.
 
Tougaloo's only hit came off the bat of shortstop Timothy Jackson, while starting pitcher Christopher Robinson took the loss on the mound. Robinson surrendered two unearned runs over the game's first two innings, but they were enough to give him his first loss of the season.
 
Welton Hudson was the first man out of the Tougaloo bullpen, but he only lasted an inning after allowing two more runs to the Belhaven offense. Jamari Johnson then pitched two frames, including the six-run bottom of the fifth.
 
The Blazers return to action on Friday, when they are set to host Brewton-Parker College in Southern States Athletics play. First pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 3:00 pm.