Emerson, Ga. – Jordan Ward needed just 87 pitches to throw a complete game shutout and send the Brookhaven Bucks to their first Sun Belt Championship series with a 7-0 victory in game three over the Atlanta Crackers (20-12) Thursday night at the Lakepoint Sports Complex.

“It feels good to reach the championship.  I’m just happy for the team and happy for the guys,” said Bucks head coach Corey Patterson.  “It was a good win.  It all started with Jordan Ward’s complete game.  He pitched great and had good tempo.  I couldn’t be more proud of the guys; they played a good game all around.  It was well balanced.”

Ward (5-2) pitched all nine innings in his seventh start of the season for the Bucks.  The right-handed rising sophomore from Jacksonville University allowed no runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

“He always wants the ball and wants to compete.  He’s a competitor and wants to be out there, and it showed tonight,” said Coach Patterson on Ward and his performance on the mound.  “All of his pitches worked well.  He kept the ball down in the zone and mixed them up great.”

With the victory, the Bucks improve to 19-13, and will face the defending champion Marietta Patriots in the championship series after Marietta won games two and three against the Norcross Astros to reach the championship for the second consecutive year.

Lyndon Weaver led Brookhaven at the plate with two hits and two RBI’s.  Will Goldberg also had two hits and drove in one run, while John Cable went 3-for-4, including a solo home run in the eighth to put the Bucks up 7-0.

Brookhaven jumped out front  in the first Lyndon Weaver led off the inning with a standing triple into left center field before Zavier Lushington drove him home with a single off the shin of Brock Carter (3-3) to put the Bucks up 1-0. 

The score remained that way until the seventh as John Cable and Daino Deas singled and Jack Rubenstein drew a hit-by-pitch to load the bases before Will Goldberg singled through the right side to put the Bucks up 2-0.  Lucas Cloud then came on to pitch for Atlanta and promptly plunked Brett Olson before Rubenstein scored on a fielder’s choice error to make it 4-0.  Two more runs came across on a single into shallow right field by Lyndon Weaver to increase Brookhaven’s lead to 6-0.

The Bucks will face the Marietta Patriots/Norcross Astros in the championship series.  Game one will be played at the Lakepoint Sports Complex on Friday, August 3rd, at 7 p.m.