Box Score
ROME, Ga.-The Belhaven baseball team lost game one of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference series at Shorter University Friday afternoon 7-2. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, were limited to four hits while the Hawks pounded out 13 hits including two home runs.

Belhaven (31-16, 14-11 SSAC) grabbed the early lead in the top of the first as center fielder Tyler Wrinkle walked to open up the frame and came home on first baseman Jaime Bruno's 19th double of the season to the gap in left center field. Second baseman Jason Hicks had bunted Wrinkle into scoring position, setting up Bruno's RBI. Shorter (33-12, 18-7 SSAC) responded with a run in the home half of the inning on a Bobby Triglia RBI single that tied the game at 1-1. Belhaven starting pitcher Allen Johnson prevented further damage by recording the next three outs, stranding Shorter runners and first and third.

The Hawks jumped in front to stay in the third when third baseman Mike Miranda launched a two out two run home run over the wall in left field to make it 3-1. Shorter then added two more runs in the fourth thanks to a two run double by center fielder Willie Lewis that extended the lead to 5-1.

Belhaven's best chance to rally came in the fifth when the Blazers loaded the bases with one out. Hicks was hit by a pitch and was credited with an RBI when shortstop Dillon Berry scored from third after opening the inning by reaching on an error. Starting pitcher Stephen Adkins then came back to record back to back strikeouts of left fielder Anthony Doss and Bruno to end the inning, leaving the bases loaded. Shorter tacked on two more runs in the seventh to put the game away on a Miranda solo home run and an RBI single by right fielder Cal Hardie.

Wrinkle had a hit to go along with two walks to lead the Blazers at the plate on Friday afternoon. Third baseman Bud Britt and DH Kyle Wheeler had a base hit each and Bruno was 1 for 4 with the RBI double. Hicks had the other Belhaven RBI while Wrinkle and Berry scored the only runs. Johnson suffered the loss on the hill as he falls to 6-6 this season. Johnson pitched 6.1 innings allowing seven runs on 12 hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Matthew Shaw tossed 1.2 innings and limited the Hawks to one hit in the game.

Shorter was paced by Miranda who had a pair of home runs and three runs batted in. Shortstop Dadynoel Lorenzo went 3 for 4 with two runs scored followed by Lewis with two hits and two runs batted in. Second baseman Antonio Walcott and Hardie finished the day with two hits apiece. Hardie also had an RBI in his stat line on Friday. Adkins went five innings and notched the win on the hill, limiting the Blazers to two runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Devin Dunson logged three scoreless innings in relief and Bud Fuller worked the ninth to close the game.

Belhaven will be on the field Saturday in games two and three of the series at Shorter starting at 11:00 AM.