PEARL, Miss. - The Belhaven Baseball team took down the University of St. Thomas (TX) in both ends of their Friday doubleheader as they kicked off their home opener weekend in style.
GAME ONE
The Blazers took the series opener 6-1 in what was a seven-inning contest against the Celts.
Brett Sanchez pitched a gem for the Green and Gold as he picked up his 27th career pitching win which sets a new program best and adds another all-time record to the right-hander's resumé. Sanchez went the distance in the game throwing seven innings and striking out nine.
After St. Thomas took an early lead in the top of the 1st, the Belhaven bats answered back with a run in the bottom half of the same frame. The Blazers then took the lead and never looked back, scoring twice in the 4th and 5th innings with another insurance run scored in the bottom of the 6th.
Notable Performances
Brett Sanchez (W, 2-1): 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 9 K
Tristan Pearson: 2-3, 2 RBI
Cole Fletcher: 1-2, 2B, 3 R
GAME TWO
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Blazers turned to veteran right-hander
Will Swift on the mound and grabbed an early series win behind a 7-3 scoreline. St. Thomas struck first against with a solo home run in the 1st inning but Belhaven answered with a sacrifice fly from
Hunter Estes to tie the game.
Belhaven then pulled out in front 5-1, behind a four-run bottom of the 3rd inning behind RBI hits from
Owen Abney and
Hunter Estes. Abney grabbed two more RBI in the 6th with a double to right field, his second hit of the day, giving the Blazers a commanding 7-1 lead.
St. Thomas grabbed two more runs in the top half of the 9th inning but could not overcome the Belhaven advantage setting up a chance for a second straight series sweep for the Blazers on Saturday.
Notable Performances
Will Swift (W, 2-1): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 5 K
Caleb Menard: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 K
Owen Abney: 2-5, 2B, 4 RBI, R
Hunter Estes: 1-3, 3 RBI
The Blazers will go for the weekend sweep on Saturday at Trustmark Park with first pitch in the series finale against the Celts set for 1:00 PM.
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