Box Score
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven baseball team edged 7th ranked Cumberland University (TN) Thursday night at Smith-Wills Stadium by the final of 5-2. The Blazers, ranked 15th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, rallied from a 2-0 deficit with five unanswered runs to get the win.

Cumberland (2-2) jumped on top in the top of the third scoring a pair of unearned runs leading to a 2-0 advantage. Cory Urquhart and Craig Monson were retired to start the inning, but then an error by Belhaven third baseman Bud Britt allowed Sam Lind to reach base, keeping the inning alive. Mike Mandarino then picked up a two out base hit followed by RBI singles from Nick Sydnor and Daniel Harrison.

It was Belhaven's turn to take advantage of two Cumberland errors in the bottom of the fifth which led to two runs. Shortstop Hamilton Harper struck out swinging with one out, but reached on an error by Mandarino. Right fielder Joshua Bouldin followed with a single to right putting runners on first and second. Following a fielder's choice off the bat of center fielder Tyler Wrinkle, left fielder Anthony Doss collected an RBI single and an error by Harrison at third permitted the second run to score on the play making it a 2-2 contest.

The Blazers went in front in the sixth on a two run single to right by Bouldin. An error by second baseman Sam Lind opened the door for the two runs as catcher Clay Bonds and shortstop Ryne Cook scored on the Bouldin single. Belhaven tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning when Wrinkle brought home pinch runner Josiah Richard on a sac fly. Blazers closer Josh Clarke shutdown the Bulldogs in the ninth to grab his third save of the season, rebounding from a tough outing on Tuesday night at Millsaps with a strong performance on Thursday.

Belhaven (6-2) was led offense by Bouldin who went 4 for 4 with a double and two runs batted in. Britt had two hits and Wrinkle along with Doss picked up RBI's. Cook also had a solid afternoon at the plate going 2 for 4. Jamie Bruno and Ryan Saunders picked up a hit each as Belhaven racked up 11 total hits in the game.

Geoffrey Thomas started the game and went the first 5.2 innings allowing two unearned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts. Jon Patino pitched 2.1 innings in relief for his first win of the season and Josh Clarke nabbed his third save with a scoreless ninth.

Cumberland (2-2) was led by Sydnor and Harrison with a hit and RBI apiece. The Bulldogs had seven hits, but left 12 men on base in the game. Keith Kirby suffered the loss pitching six innings allowing four runs on nine hits with six strikeouts. All four of the runs were unearned.

Belhaven will be back in action Friday afternoon against Southern Poly beginning at 2:30 PM. Southern Poly lost to LSU-Shreveport on Thursday 12-2.