The No. 8-ranked Belhaven University baseball team opened its conference schedule with a 7-5 victory over Maryville on Friday night at Trustmark Park. The Blazers improved to 15-3 overall with the win.
Maryville scored three runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to three consecutive hits and a defensive error. Belhaven responded in the second inning, with Trey Flettrich reaching base and Chess Parker singling to put runners on the corners. Jake McCann drove in Flettrich with an RBI single, cutting the early deficit to 3-1.
Owen Abney sparked the Blazers’ comeback in the fourth with a solo home run to left field. Maryville added a run in the fifth to extend its lead to 4-2, but Belhaven took the lead in the sixth. Hayden Roberts singled and stole second, and Parker Ryan followed with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Parker delivered a two-run single to put Belhaven ahead 5-4.
The Scots tied the game at 5-5 in the seventh on a balk with runners in scoring position. Belhaven responded quickly in the bottom half, with Nick Thornton singling and Roberts reaching on a bunt error that allowed Thornton to score. Abney then scored on a wild pitch, pushing the lead to 7-5.
Belhaven’s bullpen shut down Maryville in the late innings. Cooper Sirk pitched a scoreless seventh, Caleb Menard handled the eighth, and John Wade earned his fourth save in the ninth by striking out two batters.
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader at Trustmark Park, with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. For updates, follow @BelhavenBlazers on X and Instagram, and like Belhaven Athletics on Facebook.
