MOUNT BERRY, Ga. - The No. 4 ranked Belhaven Baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader at the Berry Invitational, falling to Cortland in the opener before bouncing back with a late comeback victory over Marietta College to close the weekend. With the split, the Blazers finished 2-1 at the Berry Invitational and now sit at 14-2 overall on the season.

Belhaven entered the weekend ranked No. 4 in the latest D3Baseball.com national poll, while Berry and SUNY Cortland also received votes in the same poll.

Game One - SUNY Cortland 13, Belhaven 2

Belhaven battled early but a pair of big innings from Cortland proved to be the difference as the Red Dragons pulled away for a 13-2 win in the opening game of the doubleheader.  

SUNY Cortland struck first in the third inning after loading the bases with a single, walk and hit batter. A walk forced in the first run of the game before Belhaven turned a double play to limit further damage and keep the deficit at 1-0.  

The Blazers answered in the bottom half of the inning. Jake McCann started the rally with a single before Nick Thornton followed with another hit. After both runners moved into scoring position on a double steal, Blake McCarthy grounded out to bring McCann home and even the score at 1-1.

Belhaven grabbed its first lead in the fifth inning. Owen Abney singled and advanced into scoring position before McCann drew a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up and Thornton delivered with a sacrifice fly to center field that plated Abney and gave the Blazers a 2-1 advantage.

SUNY Cortland quickly responded in the sixth inning. A two-run home run put the Red Dragons back in front before a defensive miscue extended the frame and allowed another run to score, giving Cortland a 4-2 lead.  

The game shifted decisively in the seventh when Cortland erupted for eight runs. The Red Dragons loaded the bases and used a combination of walks, hit batters and timely hits to stretch the lead. A sacrifice fly opened the scoring before an RBI double and multiple run-scoring plays helped push the advantage to 13-2.

Despite the tough finish, Belhaven's pitching staff worked out of several early jams. Gunner Staten tossed 5.1 innings and allowed just two earned runs while working around traffic on the bases to keep the Blazers within striking distance through the first half of the game.  

Belhaven finished with four hits in the contest with McCann, Thornton, Abney and Parker Ryan each recording a hit.

Game Two - Belhaven 7, Marietta 6

The Blazers bounced back in dramatic fashion in the nightcap, using a late rally to defeat Marietta College 7-6.  

Belhaven opened the scoring in the first inning when Austin Canale and Thornton recorded back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position, Ryan lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Canale and give the Blazers a 1-0 lead.  

Marietta tied the game in the bottom half of the inning and then surged ahead in the third. After an error extended the inning, a run scored on a balk before a two-run single pushed the Pioneers in front 4-1.

Belhaven chipped away at the deficit in the sixth inning when Brayden Thompson launched a solo home run to left-center field, cutting the lead to 4-2.  

The Blazers pulled even in the seventh with a clutch rally. Thornton singled to start the inning and eventually scored on an RBI walk by JD Weed. Moments later, Trey Smith worked another bases-loaded walk to force in the tying run and make it 4-4.

Belhaven seized the lead in the eighth inning. Canale was hit by a pitch to begin the frame before Thornton drew a walk. A throwing error during a sacrifice bunt allowed Canale to score and give the Blazers the lead. A sacrifice fly from Owen Abney and an RBI single from Weed added two more insurance runs as Belhaven stretched the advantage to 7-4.  

Marietta threatened in the bottom of the eighth with two runs to cut the lead to one, but Belhaven's pitching staff worked out of the jam and held the narrow margin heading into the ninth.

In the final frame, the Blazers turned a game-ending double play to seal the 7-6 victory.

On the mound, Kaleb Smith provided a strong start, allowing four runs over six innings while keeping Belhaven within reach. Hayden Roberts delivered three innings of relief and struck out four to earn the win.  

Thornton led the offense with three hits and two runs scored, while Weed finished with two hits and two RBI. Thompson added the key home run and Abney contributed an RBI sacrifice fly during the late rally.

Belhaven returns home following the Berry Invitational where the Blazers will host Rhodes for a standalone weekday game on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:00 PM.

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