JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Baseball team returned to the diamond for the first time since March 7th, 2020 and were able to open up their 2021 season with a pair of wins over #39 Piedmont in a double header on Friday. The first game of the matchup saw Belhaven walk it off in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 1-0 contest and the Blazers were able to cruise to a 9-1 victory in the back half of Friday's games.

GAME ONE

In what was the season opener for the Blazers, the Belhaven squad found themselves in a pitcher's duel against the visiting Piedmont Lions. Beau Louviere was handed the ball for the Blazers in the first game and the freshman from Church Point, La. delivered a gem going 5.2 shutout innings, allowing four hits and striking out nine, a single game career high. In relief, the Blazers got a big outing from freshman Luke Miller who went 3.1 innings while allowing just a single hit and striking out four hitters. Miller picked up the win and the two Blazers' pitchers combined for a complete game shutout. 

Sam Carpenter took the hill for the visitors and the lefty put up an impressive performance holding Belhaven scoreless into the ninth inning, allowing seven hits and striking out 11. Carter Ballstadt came in with a pair of runners on in the ninth and gave up the hit that scored the game winning run. Carpenter took the loss for Piedmont. 

The fireworks were hard to come by in the first game of the night until the bottom of the ninth. The first three batters of the inning reached via base hit and despite a caught stealing, Belhaven was able to get a pair of runners in scoring position. With two outs, Trip Benson was able to drive in the lone run of the game on an infield single propelling Belhaven to a walk off win. 

GAME TWO

Sophomore Brett Sanchez took the mound for Belhaven in the second game of the night and was not to be outdone by his teammates on the mound in Game One. Sanchez allowed a single run in the top of the first inning before turning in seven consecutive shutout innings. On the night Sanchez went eight innings, scattered seven hits for just the one run, walked two and struck out nine. Ethan McPherson worked a scoreless ninth in his first appearance for the Blazers picking up a strike out of his own and polished off a strong opening day for Belhaven. Sanchez picked up his first win of the year.

The Blazers' offense was a big part of the story in their second win on the night. They were able to answer Piedmont's first inning run with one of their own before taking the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Belhaven tacked on two more in the bottom of the fourth on a 2-RBI single from Kyle McLaughlin. The Blazers added a single run in the sixth before putting the game out of reach with a four run seventh inning highlighted by Trip Benson's RBI double.

In Game Two, the Blazers also saw Caleb Whittle tie the ASC record for stolen bases in a single game as the Belhaven center fielder swiped four bags in the win. 

The Blazers will go for the series sweep of Piedmont on Saturday, February 13th with first pitch set for 1 PM. The game broadcast will be available on blazers.belhaven.edu.

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