The No. 18-ranked Belhaven University baseball team edged LaGrange 4-3 in 10 innings Friday night at Trustmark Park. The Blazers improved to 21-8 with the win and aim to clinch the series in Saturday’s doubleheader.
LaGrange took an early lead in the first inning, scoring twice on a hit batter and three singles. Belhaven’s starter, Gunner Staten, settled down after the first, holding the Panthers scoreless in the second and third innings. He stranded two runners in the third to keep the game close.
Belhaven responded in the fourth, beginning with a single from Blake McCarthy. After a walk to Nick Thornton, Hayden Roberts knocked in a run with a single. Chess Parker followed with an RBI single, tying the game at 2-2.
The game remained tight through the middle innings. LaGrange regained the lead in the sixth on an RBI single, but Logan McNamara came in relief and limited damage, ending the inning with a groundout and a lineout. Both teams left runners on base in the seventh, keeping the score close.
Belhaven tied the game again in the eighth. Thornton drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice, and Trey Smith delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to make it 3-3. A double play ended the inning, sending the game into extra frames.
The Blazers’ bullpen kept LaGrange off the board. Brandon Rhodes pitched two scoreless innings, escaping a jam in the eighth with a strikeout and flyout. John Wade then retired all six batters he faced in the ninth and 10th innings, striking out three.
In the bottom of the 10th, Thornton drew a leadoff walk, and a throwing error put two runners on with no outs. Roberts bunted safely to load the bases. Parker Ryan then hit a sacrifice fly to left field, and a defensive miscue allowed the winning run to cross, giving Belhaven the 4-3 victory.
The teams will conclude the series Saturday with a doubleheader at Trustmark Park, beginning at 2 p.m. Follow Belhaven athletics on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for updates.
