JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven Blazers knocked off the Millsaps Majors in an electric come-from-behind victory to claim the Cowboy Maloney Trophy for the fourth straight season and run their win streak out to 11 straight games.
The Blazers got on the board early with an RBI triple by Dawson Albin in the top of the first by to take a 1-0 lead. The Blazers extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth thanks to back-to-back RBI by Caleb Whittle and James Muse. Belhaven added another run in the top of the sixth as Dawson Albin picked up another RBI hit, his second of the day, and put the Blazers in front 4-0.
The Majors would not go away easily however and the hosts struck for four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. Belhaven worked to regain control of the game during the middle innings but in the bottom of the seventh the Majors grabbed another multi-run frame and took their first lead of the contest, jumping in front 7-4.
With the game on the line, the Blazers would come to life in the top of the ninth with a rally that started on an RBI single by Caleb Whittle. Whittle's hit was followed up by Matthew Charbonnet scoring a run on a fielder's choice which put the Blazers behind by just a run.
Belhaven would tie the game with two outs in the ninth as Nick Lucido delivered an RBI single setting up Nathan Herron who delivered the eventual game-winning hit and gave the Blazers an 8-7 lead heading into the bottom of the inning. In the home half of the ninth, Will Swift got the call from the bullpen and closed the game out with a strikeout looking to secure the Belhaven win as he grabbed his first save of the year.
The win gave Belhaven the season series over the Majors and secured the Cowboy Maloney Series Trophy for the Blazers who have held the trophy since the 2019 campaign. That marks four straight times that Belhaven has won the season series over the Majors (the teams did not meet in 2021).
BELHAVEN PITCHERS
Joshua Thomas - 5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 2 K
Jacob Doyle - 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 K
Noah Whatley -1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K
Colton Sylvester (W, 3-0) - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 2 K
Will Swift (S,1) - 0.2 IP, 1 K
BELHAVEN HITTING LEADERS
Nathan Herron: 3-4, RBI, R
Dawson Albin: 2-5, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B
Matthew Charbonnet: 2-3, 3 R, 2 BB
Caleb Whittle: 1-4, 2 RBI
Nick Lucido: 1-4, RBI
James Muse: 2-5, RBI, R
The Blazers return to action on Friday when they face Covenant College in the first of a three-game conference series. First pitch is set for 7:00 PM.
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