ABILENE, Texas - The Belhaven baseball team used a sixth inning rally to defeat the McMurry Warhawks in game one of the doubleheader, but the Green and Gold fell 7-2 in the nightcap, earning the split on Friday afternoon at Walt Driggers Field.
In game one, Belhaven was able to capitalize in the second inning off of McMurry starter Juan Valadez (2-2).
Stephen Sexton led off the inning with a single followed by a
Daniel Ammirati walk. After
Julyan Urena moved the runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt,
Kreg Garner bought Sexton home from third to give the Green and Gold the 1-0 advantage.
The lead would not last long, however, as MCM added a run in the bottom half of the inning to even the score at a run apiece.
In the fifth, BU attempted to score the go-ahead run, and the Blazers got the bases loaded, but
Terrell Hodges grounded into the fielder's choice with two outs to end the threat.
Still knotted at a run each, the Green and Gold finally broke through. Sexton led off the inning with a double to deep right field, and Ammirati followed with a single to center field to give BU the 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Tanner Cable (3-1) was able to slam the door to finish the start, striking out Kevin Garza to end the game.
Cable went the distance, allowing four hits and two walks, allowing one earned run and striking out nine.
In game two, McMurry (8-11, 3-5) got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the first inning to make it 3-0 right out of the gate.
The Blazers (11-8, 3-5) tacked on a single run in the second and third innings. In the second,
Ryan Wesson delivered a bases loaded walk. In the third, Hodges brought
Ty Dean home on a RBI triple to cut the deficit to one run, 3-2.
McMurry would score four unanswered runs to put the lead out of reach, 7-2.
Shane Brown (2-3) tossed four innings, allowed seven hits, five runs, four earned and struck out five batters.
The Blazers will look to take the rubber match on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.
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