JACKSON, Miss. - Belhaven erased a five-run deficit and walked it off in dramatic fashion Thursday night, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Hardin-Simmons 7-6 at Trustmark Park.  

The comeback win moves the Blazers to 5-0 on the season and marks their second late-inning rally in the early stretch of the year.

Hardin-Simmons struck first in the opening inning and then broke the game open in the second. A string of two-out hits, including a two-RBI single from Justin Blancaflor, helped the Cowboys plate five runs in the frame to build a 6-0 lead.

Starter Cole Burton worked through traffic in the first before running into trouble in the second. He left after two innings, and the bullpen was tasked with keeping Belhaven within striking distance.

Belhaven answered in the bottom of the second. Jake McCann drew a walk and moved into scoring position before coming home on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 6-1.

The Blazers added another run in the fifth. After Nick Thornton and Blake McCarthy worked walks and Hayden Roberts reached to load the bases, a wild pitch allowed Thornton to score and make it 6-2.

In the seventh, Belhaven manufactured a run without a hit. Austin Canale reached on catcher's interference and later scored when Roberts was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, trimming the margin to 6-3.

While the offense clawed back, the pitching staff locked in. Cole Covington settled things down with two scoreless innings, stranding runners in the fourth. Trey Flettrich followed with two shutout frames, striking out three. Ashton Bultron and Will Robinson combined to keep the Cowboys off the board over the final three innings, highlighted by a double play in the ninth that erased a leadoff single and kept the deficit at three.

From the third inning on, Belhaven's bullpen held Hardin-Simmons scoreless, allowing the offense time to rally.

Trailing 6-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Blazers mounted their biggest rally of the season.

Thornton drew his fourth walk of the night to open the inning. McCarthy followed with a single through the right side, and Roberts dropped a base hit to load the bases.

After a strikeout, Owen Abney was hit by a pitch to force in Thornton and make it 6-4. Parker Ryan then worked a bases-loaded walk to bring home McCarthy, cutting the deficit to one.

Moments later, Chess Parker was hit by a pitch with the bases full, tying the game at 6-6.

With the crowd on its feet, Canale delivered the final blow, lining a single to center field to score Abney and complete the 7-6 walk-off victory.

Belhaven managed just five hits on the night but drew 11 walks and was hit by five pitches, constantly applying pressure. Thornton reached base five times with four walks and two runs scored. McCarthy added a hit and two walks, while Roberts recorded a key RBI after being hit with the bases loaded.

Canale finished 1-for-3 with the game-winning RBI and also reached earlier in the game to spark the seventh-inning run.

The patience at the plate and ability to capitalize on free passes mirrors the approach that fueled last weekend's sweep of No. 25 East Texas Baptist, where players like JD Weed, Abney, and McCarthy delivered timely hits in key moments. That same resilience showed again Friday night.

Robinson (1-0) was credited with the win after pitching the final 1.1 innings. The bullpen quartet of Covington, Flettrich, Bultron, and Robinson combined for seven shutout innings, allowing just five hits and striking out seven to keep the Blazers within reach.

Belhaven will look to carry the momentum from the dramatic comeback into its upcoming weekend action as the Blazers continue their homestand at Trustmark Park.

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