AUSTIN, Texas – The Belhaven Baseball team took both ends of their Friday doubleheader against Concordia securing a series win with a 3-2 victory in Game 1 followed by a 1-0 shutout in Game 2.
GAME ONE
The Blazers took a tightly contested first game from the Tornados on the back of a strong pitching performance from
Harris Coleman. Belhaven took an early lead over the hosts with a run in the top of the 2
nd inning after an error let
Dawson Albin reach base and the Blazers shortstop came around to score on a sac fly from
Hunter White. Concordia answered quickly however with a run in the bottom of the 3
rd inning to tie the contest at 1-1 and then took the lead for the first time with a single run in the 4
th inning.
The two teams traded scoreless innings with Belhaven unable to find their way back into the game stranding runners in the 3rd and 5th innings. The Blazers left it late but secured the win with a pair of runs in the final inning of what was a seven-inning contest.
Hunter Estes delivered an RBI single with the bases loaded that scored
Max Licciardi to tie the game and then
Hunter White scored the winning run on a sac fly from
Caleb Whittle.
BELHAVEN PITCHERS
Harris Coleman (W, 2-1) – 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 K
BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS
Hunter White – 1-2, RBI, R
Hunter Estes – 1-1, RBI
GAME TWO
The second game of the day followed the 'Pitcher's Duel' theme from the series opener. Belhaven took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when
Kyle McLaughlin worked a walk, stole second and then scored what would be the game's only run on an RBI single from
Dawson Albin.
Belhaven's only other hit in the game came from
Kyle McLaughlin who picked up a one-out base hit in the 6
thinning but was stranded in scoring position after swiping second base once again. Meanwhile, Belhaven starter
Brett Sanchez cruised through the Tornados' lineup also allowing just two hits in the game. Sanchez allowed multiple baserunners in just one frame and allowed just three in total from hits or walks as he grabbed his first win of the season in his third start.
With the shutout of the Tornados,
Brett Sanchez brings his career total to six shutouts to become Belhaven's all-time leader.
BELHAVEN PITCHERS
Brett Sanchez (W, 1-1) – 9.0 IP, 2 H, BB, 9 K
BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS
Kyle McLaughlin – 1-3, BB, R
Dawson Albin – 1-3, RBI, BB
The Blazers will go for the series sweep of the Tornados on Saturday with first pitch in Austin set for 11 AM.
