Box Score
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven baseball team edged 21st ranked Freed-Hardeman Tuesday night 2-1 in a non-conference matchup at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, had solid pitching from start to finish clearing the way for the win.

Freed-Hardeman (26-17) had a golden opportunity to set the tone for the game in the top of the first, loading the bases on three straight singles against starting pitcher Brandon McHenry. However, McHenry struck out the next three batters to work out of the jam. Belhaven's offense gave McHenry the lead in the bottom of the first when second baseman Jason Hicks tripled to left center field and left fielder Anthony Doss brought him in on his 19th double of the season to make it 1-0.

Freed-Hardeman pulled even in the fourth when right fielder Kirkland Wheeler scored on a throwing error by Hicks. Hicks was attempting to turn a double play and threw off target to first on what ended up being a fielder's choice off the bat of left fielder Ryan Grigaitis. Belhaven (31-15) manufactured the game winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on an RBI squeeze bunt by right fielder Tom Wertz that chased in pinch runner Emilio DeSilva. First baseman Jaime Bruno led the inning off with a double, third baseman Bud Britt moved DeSilva to third on a fly ball to right, and Wertz brought him in. The Blazer bullpen kept the Lions off the board in the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the win.

Hicks, Wertz, and Bruno each had two hits to lead the Belhaven offensive attack. Doss had an RBI on the double and Wertz picked up the other Belhaven RBI on the squeeze play. McHenry earned the win to go to 4-1 on the season; logging seven innings on the mound with six strikeouts. McHenry have up eight hits and the only run he gave up was unearned. Robert Marzoni pitched a scoreless inning in relief and Josh Clarke locked things down in the ninth for his 10th save of the season.

Freed-Hardeman was led by first baseman Joe Mike who went 3 for 4 in the contest. Center fielder Justin Mackey and second baseman Robert Prieto had two hits apiece. The Lions outhit Belhaven 10-7, but left 10 runners on base through the course of the game. Charlie Overturf started for the Lions a tossed seven innings, allowing both runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Overturf suffered the loss and falls to 2-5 on the season.

Belhaven will be back in action on Friday, heading to Shorter University for a Southern States Athletic Conference series against the Hawks beginning at 1:00 PM. The series will conclude on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 11:00 AM.