THE RUNDOWN

MARSHALL, Texas– The Belhaven University baseball team lost two close contests to the East Texas Baptist University Tigers on Friday afternoon inside of conference play. 
 
In game one of the doubleheader matchup, Belhaven (8-15) looked to be in control of the game, leading 7-3, after a six-run fourth inning helped propel the Blazers to an early advantage. 
 
The six-run inning was prompted by a single from Hunter White, a triple from Tucker Calhoun, and a home run to left field from Evan Moore. All three hits brought in two runs as Belhaven tallied six total hits in the inning. 
 
However, ETBU (16-8) earned three runs back in the bottom half of the fourth inning and two more runs in the fifth inning to regain an 8-7 lead. 
 
The Tigers were able to hold the Blazers scoreless for the remaining innings in game one, to notch the win by a final of 8-7.
 
In game two, Belhaven utilized five hits in the fourth inning to hang a four spot on the scoreboard. Logan Walters drove in the first run with a single up the middle that scored Julyan Urena, who previously reached base with a leadoff double to center field to begin the inning. 
 
Moments later, AJ Bratton had a two-run single that scored both Trip Benson and Logan Walters. Noah Holmes capped off the inning with a single that scored Bratton, giving Belhaven a 4-0 lead. 
 
The Tigers were able to scrap a run back in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run. The very next inning, Logan Walters delivered an RBI single to right field, getting the run back from the Tigers to take a 5-1 advantage. 
 
However, ETBU answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game up at 5-5.
 
With the score tied at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, ETBU singled to right field with the bases loaded to win game two in walk off fashion by a final score of 6-5.
 
With the losses, Belhaven fell to 8-15 overall and 1-10 in the conference. ETBU improved to 16-8 overall and 7-4 in the conference. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

In game one, AJ Bratton was a perfect 3-for-3 at plate with one run scored. 

Evan Moore smashed a home run to left field, finishing with one hit (1-for-4) with two runs scored and two runs batted in. 

Tucker Calhoun and Hunter White also finished with two runs batted in, during the game. They each collected one hit in game one. 

In game two, four Blazers had multiple hits: Logan Walters (3), Julyan Urena (2), Trip Benson (2), and Noah Holmes (2). 
 
Walters and Bratton had two runs batted in apiece in the second game.

Julyan Urena had a team high two runs score in the game. 

As a team, Belhaven tallied eleven hits for the second game of Fridays doubleheader.

UP NEXT

The Blazers will return to the field tomorrow for the final game of the series at 1:00 p.m. at ETBU in Marshall, Texas.
 
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