ABILENE, Texas - The Belhaven Baseball team set the tone early with six early runs in rout to a 9-5 win over Hardin-Simmons on Saturday. The Blazers (3-3) notched their first series sweep of the season with the victory.

Belhaven wasted no time as the first three batters reached base before Owen Abney drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Hunter Harrell's RBI double gave the Blazers a 3-0 lead heading into the Cowboys' first at-bats.

A quick 1-2-3 inning from starter Kade May set up another three-run frame for Belhaven in the second. After the first two hitters were retired, Josh Neutze began the rally with a single up the middle. An error allowed Cole Fletcher to reach, and Tristan Pearson made it count with a two-run double to extend the lead. Noah Foster added the sixth run of the game with an RBI base hit to score Pearson.

HSU got a run back in the second, but Belhaven added two more in the fourth to take a seven-run advantage. The Blazers pushed across another in the 5th to grab a 9-2 lead heading into the later innings.

The Cowboys plated three late, but it was not enough as reliever Caleb Menard sealed the sweep with a scoreless ninth inning to give Belhaven the 9-5 win.

May (1-1) earned the win, striking out five and allowing just one earned run on six hits in 7.0 innings. Josh Neutze went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Cole Fletcher and Tristan Pearson each collected two hits.

The Blazers will open up the home slate on Friday, February 23rd against the University of St. Thomas (TX). First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3:00 PM at Trustmark Park.

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