PEARL, Miss. - The Belhaven Baseball team split the opening two games of a CCS three-game series with Huntingdon on Friday at Trustmark Park. The Hawks (20-9, 6-4 CCS) took Game 1 6-1, but Belhaven (18-15, 10-4 CCS) used some extra-inning heroics to win the nightcap 4-3 to even the series.
GAME ONE
The Hawks plated the first run of the game in the top half of the 3rd inning on an RBI single. A sacrifice fly in the 4th staked Huntingdon to a 2-0 lead.
A bases-clearing double that same inning broke the ballgame wide open as the Hawks jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the middle innings.
The Belhaven bats were stifled for much of the game with the Blazers tallying just five base knocks in the contest. After Huntingdon tacked on another run in the 9th, Belhaven got on the board as
Dawson Albin came in to score after leading off the inning with a triple.
A popout ended things in the 9th to give Huntingdon the 6-1 win in the opener.
BELHAVEN PITCHERS
Harris Coleman (L, 3-2): 3.2 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 1 K
Joshua Thomas: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 K
BELHAVEN BATTING LEADERS
Dawson Albin: 2-4, 3B, R
Hunter Estes: 2-4, RBI
Matthew Charbonnet: 1-3, BB
GAME TWO
The Blazers flipped the script in the early going of Game 2 as
Dawson Albin and
Caleb Whittle each recorded RBI singles to give Belhaven a 2-0 lead after one.
Matthew Charbonnet, who had a four-hit day, scored
Chase Kitchens with an RBI double in the 4th to extend the lead. After six scoreless innings from Belhaven starter
Brett Sanchez, Huntingdon plated their first run of the game on an RBI single.
The Hawks score a run in each the 8th and 9th innings to tie the game at three. With two in scoring position and only one out, Blazers' reliever
Will Swift struck out back-to-back batters to keep the score deadlocked.
After Huntingdon led off the top of the 10th with a single, a batter's interference and a line-drive double play ended the inning and sent Belhaven back to bat needing just one run to win it.
Dawson Albin drew a walk to open the inning. After
Caleb Whittle executed a sacrifice bunt to perfection,
Hunter Estes delivered the walk-off with a single deep in the hole at short. The throw got away from the Hawks' first baseman, and Albin raced home with ease to give Belhaven a thrilling extra-inning win on Senior Day.
BELHAVEN PITCHERS
Brett Sanchez: 7.1 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 10 K
Will Swift (W, 2-2): 2.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 K
BELHAVEN HITTING LEADERS
Matthew Charbonnet: 4-5, 2 2B, RBI, R, SB
Caleb Whittle: 2-3, RBI, BB
Hunter Estes: 2-4, RBI (Walk-off 1B)
In between games, 12 seniors took part in Senior Day festivities and were recognized for their outstanding Belhaven careers. Those seniors are listed below.
SS
Dawson Albin
LHP
Jacob Doyle
1B
Hunter Estes
OF
Kyle McLaughlin
RHP
Beau Louviere
C
Chase Kitchens
RHP
Brett Sanchez
RHP
Luke Miller
OF
Matthew Charbonnet
RHP
John Dawson
RHP
Tucker Jones
RHP
Noah Whatley
The rubber match between the Blazers and Hawks is set for 11:00 AM tomorrow at Trustmark Park.
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