JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team returned to their winning ways on Tuesday, defeating Talladega College 16-4 at Smith-Wills Stadium. With the win, the Blazers improved to 25-15 on the year, including a 16-11 record at their home ballpark.
 
"It was good to see our bats come alive the way they did today," Head Coach Hill Denson said. "Talladega is a good team, and we're hoping to see our guys keep playing well."
 
Reagan Rutledge hammered a pitch over the right field wall to get the Blazers on the scoreboard in the first inning. Catcher Hunter Sutton started the second inning the same way, and the offensive floodgates swung open.
 
Belhaven scored another six runs before the second frame finally came to a close, as 11 Blazers batted in the inning. Talladega leadoff man Austin Drummond rattled the left field foul pole in the third inning, but Belhaven got that run back in the bottom half.
 
The Tornadoes managed three runs in the sixth, but the Blazers got two runs in each the fifth and sixth before setting up a huge hit in the seventh. Pinch hitters Gabe Veith, Tee Payne, and Kevin Lopez each reached based, and one was erased on the basepaths.
 
Adam Kowalczyk launched his second home run of the afternoon and tenth of the season to walk off with a ten-run mercy rule. Tuesday marked the sixth time this year the Blazers have won a shortened game in that fashion.
 
Kowalczyk finished his day with two home runs, a double, and five RBI, while Emilio DeSilva's 3-for-4 afternoon plated four more. Will Mullen and Gabe Wilson each added two base hits, as ten Blazers reached base safely in the victory.
 
Starter Tanner Moulder pitched into the fourth inning before being struck by a comebacker off the bat of Eric Bonifacio. After allowing just one run on five hits, Moulder was able to make his way into the dugout under his own power, and Richard Richardson replaced him on the mound.
 
Richardson (1-0) got the Blazers through the fifth, punching out two Tornadoes and qualifying for his first win of the year. Sidewinder Austin McCann fought through a tough sixth before Jacob Byrd overcame two walks in the seventh and final inning.
 
Designated hitter Hector Corona was the only Talladega hitter with a multi-hit game, while DJ Haynes drove in two runs off the Tornado bench. The Blazers finished the day with as many home runs as stolen bases, the first time this season the team has performed that feat.
 
Marcos Dominguez (2-1) was on the wrong side of the decision for Talladega, allowing 11 Belhaven runs on eight hits, with six going for extra bases. Jesus Rosario surrendered two more runs in the sixth before Zach Pearson gave up the three-run homer to Kowalczyk that ended the game.
 
Belhaven and Talladega are scheduled to wrap up their season series on Wednesday afternoon from Smith-Wills Stadium. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm.