RICHARDSON, Texas - The Belhaven Baseball team split their Friday doubleheader with UT Dallas Comets on Friday as the Blazers hit the road for the final series of the 2022 regular season. Belhaven dropped the opener 3-2 but bounced back with a commanding 8-0 shutout win in the second game of the doubleheader. With the win, the Blazers locked up the #3 seed in the American Southwest Conference Tournament next week.

GAME ONE

In the series opener the Comets got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning off of a RBI single through the right side to give UTD the 1-0 advantage. The Blazers tied up the ballgame 1-1 in the top of the third inning after a bases loaded hit-by-pitch that scored Caleb Whittle.

Both team were held scoreless for the next two frames, but the Blazers took the 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth off of a throwing error by the third baseman. The visitors responded big in the bottom half of the sixth inning scoring two runs off of a double and a throwing error. The Blazers came up shot in the series opener by a final score of 3-2 as Comets clinch the #2 seed in the ASC Tournament. 

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Harris Coleman (L, 5-5): 6.0 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 K

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

Kyle McLaughlin: 2-4
Chase Kitchens: 0-2, RBI
Dawson Albin: 0-3, R

GAME TWO

In the second game of the doubleheader, Dawson Albin opened the scoring for the Blazers with a RBI single through the right side to give BU the 1-0 lead. Still in the first inning, Hunter White reached on a fielder's choice that scored Herron and then stole second base and advanced to third base on throwing error and the error scored Nick Lucido from third base to make the score 3-0 after one inning.

Nick Lucido hit a RBI single to left field that scored Kyle McLaughlin to give the Blazers the 4-0 lead after two complete innings. The Blazers nor the Comets could scratch across a run in the next four innings as Belhaven led 4-0. Nathan Herron extended the Blazers' lead to 5-0 when he blasted a solo home run to left field. 

Matthew Charbonnet kept the scoring going in the top of the eighth inning with he hit a 2-RBI single up the middle that scored Hunter White and Chase Kitchens to give BU the commanding 7-0 lead. Chase Kitchens drove in an insurance run for the Blazers in the top of the ninth inning. The Blazers went on to secure the 8-0 shutout victory and claimed the #3 Seed in the American Southwest Conference Tournament next week.

BELHAVEN PITCHERS

Brett Sanchez (W, 7-1): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 8 K
Will Swift (S, 5): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 K

BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS

Nathan Herron: 4-5, HR, 2 R, RBI
Matthew Charbonnet: 2-5, 2 RBI
Chase Kitchens: 1-4, 2B, R, RBI

The Blazers and Eagles will square off in a series finale on Saturday in Richardson Texas. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.

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