LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Ga. - The No. 19 ranked Belhaven picked up a pair of wins on Friday, taking both games of a doubleheader at Covenant to secure the series victory. The Blazers move to 20-7 on the season and will go for the sweep in Game 3 tomorrow.

Game 1: Belhaven 7, Covenant 4
Belhaven built an early lead, weathered a mid-game push, and pulled away late to take the opener.

The Blazers broke through in the second inning with aggressive baserunning. After a single and an error put a runner in scoring position, Chess Parker delivered a base hit and later stole second, allowing Owen Abney to steal home for the game's first run.  

Belhaven added on in the third when Blake McCarthy doubled and came around to score on a groundout from Austin Canale to make it 2-0.  

Covenant answered in the fourth, capitalizing on an error and a pair of hits to plate three runs and take a 3-2 lead. The deficit could have been bigger, but the Blazers limited the damage with a key flyout to strand two runners.  

Belhaven responded right away in the fifth. Jake McCann singled and moved up on a wild pitch before Canale came through again with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3.  

The decisive swing came in the sixth. The Blazers loaded the bases with three straight singles, and McCarthy delivered a two-run single to put Belhaven back in front 5-3.  

Belhaven created separation in the eighth. JD Weed tripled down the line to drive in a run, then scored on a balk to extend the lead to 7-3.  

On the mound, Gunner Staten set the tone with six strong innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while working around traffic. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after the damage was done, keeping the game within reach.  

The bullpen took it from there. Caleb Menard delivered two clean innings, and John Wade closed it out in the ninth, stranding the tying run at the plate.  

McCarthy finished with two hits and two RBI, while Chess Parker collected three hits as Belhaven totaled 13 on the day.

Game 2: Belhaven 3, Covenant 2
The second game turned into a tighter, pitching-driven battle led by Cole Burton.

The Blazers struck first in the opening inning. McCarthy reached base and came around to score on a triple from Canale. Later in the inning, Canale crossed the plate on a caught stealing play to give Belhaven a quick 2-0 lead.  

Covenant chipped away, scoring once in the second on a wild pitch and again in the third to cut the lead to 3-2.  

Belhaven's final run came in the third. Roberts singled and eventually scored on another wild pitch after moving into scoring position, giving the Blazers a one-run cushion they would not give back.  

From there, it was all about pitching and defense.

Burton was sharp, striking out 10 over 7.2 innings while allowing just four hits. He worked out of multiple tight spots, including a key sequence in the eighth where Covenant had the tying run at third before a pair of strikeouts ended the threat.  

Sage Rivere recorded the final out of the eighth for the hold, and Wade again closed the door in the ninth with three straight strikeouts to secure the save.  

Belhaven managed just five hits in the game but made them count, taking advantage of opportunities and staying clean in key moments.

With the doubleheader sweep, Belhaven has now won the first two games of the series and will look to complete the sweep against Covenant in Game 3 tomorrow.

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