men of steal

Belhaven University ranks second in the NAIA in stolen bases (104 through Monday), so it should come as no surprise that thievery was a key element in the Blazers’ 7-6 win over Mississippi College today at blustery Smith-Wills Stadium. Down 6-5 in the ninth and down to their last out, the Blazers got a clutch hit from Emilio DeSilva, who promptly stole his third bag of the game. He went to third on a wild pitch. Caleb Baucum then drew a walk and — you guessed it — stole second, BU’s seventh bag of the game. Hamilton Harper stepped up and delivered a two-run single to give the red-hot Blazers their eighth straight win and also clinch the Maloney Trophy Series for this season. Belhaven (25-12) is 2-0 against both MC (10-15) and Millsaps. P.S. William Carey, BU’s rival in the Southern States Athletic Conference, is ranked 19th in the first NAIA poll of the regular season. The Crusaders are 22-10 and 13-5 in the league. BU is 10-5 SSAC. The teams don’t meet until April 25-26, in Jackson in the last series of the regular season.