THE RUNDOWN

JACKSON, Miss. - The chapter in the book of Head Coach Hill Denson officially came to an end on Friday after the Blazers split a doubleheader matchup with the McMurry University Warhawks with a victory in game one by a final score of 1-0, before falling in game two, 5-4, in a thrilling 10-inning season finale to cap off a legendary career. Seniors were honored between games as they finished up their careers in the Green and Gold on Friday.

Despite only having four hits in game one, Head Coach Hill Denson drew up the perfect way to give his team the victory on his final day at the helm of the Belhaven baseball team as Evan Moore brought in the lone run of the game with a sacrifice squeeze attempt on a bunt back to the pitcher, which allowed AJ Bratton to score from third. 

The run turned out to be the lone run of the game as Coach Denson and the Blazers displayed grit and aggressiveness in the 1-0 victory. 

Starting pitcher Hunter Sanford was lights out in the game, throwing seven complete innings while allowing no runs and only three hits. 

In game two, the Warhawks jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and held that lead through eight innings until Belhaven suddenly drew a spark with the bats, with four hits in the inning as Belhaven was able to push across four runs to tie the ball game up at 4-4.

Coach Denson's final game ultimately needed extra innings to decide the outcome of the season finale between the Blazers and Warhawks. 

In the top of the tenth inning, with two outs and two runners on board, McMurry's 

Jordan Speck singled to right field, scoring Peyton Stokes to give the Warhawks the 5-4 lead. 

In the bottom of the tenth inning, Belhaven stranded one runner on, as they fell to the Warhawks by a final score of 5-4 to end the season for the Blazers.

On Friday, Coach Denson capped off his 19th year as Head Baseball Coach of Belhaven University, as well as a 53 year coaching career, one in which he compiled a career record of 1,295-898-2, including a 1,069-803-2 collegiate coaching mark.

During Hill Denson's tenure as the leader of the Belhaven program, the Blazers won six conference championships, an NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round tournament, and also made the school's first ever appearance in the NAIA World Series in 2010. 

Over the past 19 seasons at Belhaven, Denson and the Blazers accumulated a 613-444 record as he was named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (NAIA) Coach of the Year three times, picking up the award in 2006, 2007 and 2010. 

Coach Denson's career included 14 seasons at the helm of the University of Southern Mississippi baseball program (1984-1997), where he helped establish USM as a nationally recognized baseball power. When Denson retired from Southern Miss after the 1997 season, he had compiled a record of 468-386-2 with the Eagles.

While at USM, Coach Denson enjoyed many years of success including being named Metro Conference (now Conference USA) Coach of the Year in 1989 and 1990; having 12 consecutive winning seasons (1986-1997); a 42 win season in 1990 (school record); NCAA National Tournament bids in 1990 and 1991; Eight USM players were named NCAA All-Americans; and 35 USM players have signed professional baseball contracts.  In 1999, Denson was recognized by the University of Southern Mississippi with the honor of having the USM baseball stadium changed to Hill Denson Field at Pete Taylor Park in 1999.

In 2008, Denson was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and he has also been inducted into the Mississippi Semi-Pro Baseball Hall of Fame (1982), USM Athletic Hall of Fame (1990), Belhaven Athletics Hall of Fame (2010) and the Bobcat Sports Hall of Fame at Jones County Junior College (2012). Most recently, Coach Denson was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame in 2018.

Coach Denson stated, "I have thoroughly enjoyed my 19 years here at Belhaven. I would like to thank the administration here for putting me in charge of this program for so many years and I am grateful to all of the players who have given me the opportunity to be their coach.  I'm stepping away from the game that has been a huge part of my life in order to slow down a little and spend more time with my wife, kids, and grandchildren."

GAME STATS

Evan Moore was 3-for-6 with one run batted in and a run scored in both games combined.

Nathan Herron was 3-for-7 with a run scored in the doubleheader while AJ Bratton finished 1-for-2 with a run scored

Nick Lucido and Walters had one run batted in each in game two with one hit a piece. Tucker Calhoun was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

Brandon Foncree threw 3.2 innings of relief, allowing no runs and one hit.  

Starting pitcher Hunter Sanford was lights out in game one, throwing seven complete innings while allowing no runs and only three hits.

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