CONWAY, Ark. - The Andrew Gipson Era began on Friday afternoon as the Belhaven Baseball team traveled to Conway, Arkansas to face Hendrix and Westminster College. The Blazers fell in walk-off fashion to Hendrix, 8-7, before dropping another tough one-run game in the nightcap, 3-2, to the Blue Jays. 

GAME ONE - BELHAVEN 7, HENDRIX 8

The new-look Belhaven lineup got to work quickly as Noah Foster drove in Tristan Pearson with an RBI double off the centerfield wall just two batters into the season to give the Blazers an early advantage. An inning later, Cole Fletcher reached with a two-out double down the left field line and later stole home to put Belhaven in front 2-0. 

Hendrix plated three in their half of the third to take the lead, but the Blazers responded with a run of their own in the fifth to knot things up at three. A quick 1-2-3 inning from D3baseball.com Preseason All-American and Golden Spikes Award Watch List member Brett Sanchez set Belhaven up with a chance to regain the lead.

They did just that in the sixth as back-to-back two-baggers from Jake Tyndall and Hunter Harrell gave the Blazers a 4-3 lead, but a sacrifice fly in the home half once again brought things level.

Belhaven responded with the bats once more as Owen Abney clubbed the Blazers' first home run of the season, a no-doubt three-run shot to straightaway center. The back-and-forth game continued in the bottom of the inning as the Warriors pushed across three to tie it at seven.

Neither team broke the tie in the eighth, and it was the hosts coming through with a decisive run in the ninth to win the seesaw affair by a final of 8-7.

At the plate, three Blazers picked up multiple hits in the contest. Leadoff hitter Tristan Pearson (2-5, 2B, R), Noah Foster (2-5, 2B, RBI, R, SB), and Cole Fletcher (2-4, 2B, R) were solid in their Belhaven debuts. Abney's seventh inning homer was the second of his career.

Belhaven starter Brett Sanchez went six innings in his first start of the year, allowing four runs (all earned) on eight hits while striking out seven. Cooper Williams (0-1) picked up the loss in 2.0 innings of work out of the bullpen. 

GAME TWO - BELHAVEN 2, WESTMINSTER COLLEGE 3

Belhaven's offense once again opened the scoring early in the ballgame as James Muse doubled in Cooper Yanzetich in the top of the second to give the Blazers the lead. After three scoreless from Belhaven starter Will Swift, the Blue Jays plated two in the fourth to take the 2-1 advantage midway through.

Noah Foster continued his hot start at the plate with an RBI double in the fifth to tie the game at two. Westminster responded with a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to grab a 3-2 lead. Despite chances in the latter innings, the Blazers could not push another run across as the Blue Jays walked away with a one-run win in the first meeting of the weekend between the two clubs.

Noah Foster went 2-for-4 to lead the Green and Gold at the plate, while Josh Neutze and James Muse added doubles to the ledger. Will Swift (0-1) was pinned with the loss despite a solid showing on the mound, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings full. Preston Canale, Thomas Hollingsworth, and Colton Sylvester combined to pitch two scoreless in relief.

The Blazers will wrap up their time in Arkansas tomorrow afternoon against Westminster. First pitch from Warrior Baseball Field is set for 1:30 PM.

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