JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team picked up a sweep in their final home doubleheader on Saturday, defeating Mississippi Valley State University 5-0 and 4-2. The Blazers have now three in a row and their last ten games in non-conference action.
 
Ben Allison received the starting nod for the Blazers in the opener, working all seven innings and recording five strikeouts. The outing gave Belhaven just their second complete game shutout of the season, as the Batavia, Illinois right hander improved to 7-3 for his senior campaign.
 
The offense gave him more than enough support, with four different Blazers contributing a multi-hit ballgame. Reagan Rutledge, Paul Pickerrell, Adam Kowalczyk, and Trey Eschberger combined to go 8-for-10 with two extra base hits, three RBI, and four runs scored.
 
Belhaven also successfully swiped five bases in the game, with Pickerrell stealing two to lead all players. With a right-handed hitter at the plate, Emilio DeSilva stole home in the fifth inning to give the Blazers their final run of the game.
 
Arrington Smith took the loss for the Delta Devils, allowing five earned runs on nine base hits through 4.2 innings of work. The MVSU bullpen needed only 1.1 innings, but Cecil Hodges and Trent Kinney held the Blazers in check and did not allow a base hit.
 
Xzavier Franklin gave the visiting team their only multi-hit game, though no Delta Devil was able to muster more than a single off of Allison. The senior held his guests to just for hits on the day, but Valley did manage to steal four bases.
 
Stephen Solomon toed the rubber to start the nightcap and delivered another strong pitching performance for the Green and Gold. The right hander allowed one unearned run on five hits through seven innings while fanning seven in his second win of the year.
 
Tanner Moulder was roughed up in the eighth inning, allowing three runs before giving way to closer Zach Osha. The Sebring, Florida junior walked two and gave up a hit but got some help from his defense to earn his ninth save of the year.
 
Kowalczyk, Pickerrell and Eschberger each turned in another two-hit game, with Dane Gecina becoming the fifth Blazer of the afternoon with a multi-hit performance. Gabe Wilson left the yard with a solo home run to help left Belhaven to a doubleheader sweep over the Delta Devils.
 
Starter Cecil Hodges was saddled with the loss despite allowing just one run over three innings. Grant Reifers and Kadeem Miller provided little relief, but Valley was never able to tie the game, and Hodges dropped to 0-2 on the year.
 
Arrington Smith paced the MVSU offense with a 2-for-4 performance that included two RBI. The Delta Devils gave the Blazers a much closer game in the nightcap but ultimately dropped to 6-27 for the season.
 
Belhaven is set to return to action on Monday, when they will host Tougaloo College in the final home game of 2015. The Blazers have defeated the Bulldogs five times this season, and Monday's first pitch is slated for 3:00 pm from Smith-Wills Stadium.