Box Score Game 1    Box Score Game 2
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven baseball team lost both games of a Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader against Lee University Friday night at Smith-Wills Stadium. The third ranked Flames edged the Blazers in game one 5-4 and followed it up with a 4-2 victory in game two. Belhaven, who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, is battling for a spot in the SSAC tournament and can still make the postseason with a win in the third game of the series on Saturday.

Game One
Things looked promising early as Belhaven (32-21, 14-15 SSAC) broke through for the night's first run in the bottom of the second. With one out, second baseman Jason Hicks drilled a triple to right center field and came in on catcher Kyle Wheeler's double to straight away center field. Lee (45-8-1, 25-4 SSAC) countered with five unanswered runs beginning with two in the third to take the lead. Catcher Jorge Saez drove in the first run with a two out single and then Second baseman Blake Barber came up with an RBI single up the middle to make it a 2-1 game.

The Flames extended the lead to 3-1 when DH Corey Davis doubled down the right field line and touched the plate on a double play ground ball off the bat of third baseman Roberto Duran. Lee recorded what turned out to be two huge insurance runs in the fifth on a two run homer by Saez to make it 5-1.

Belhaven took advantage of an error by Duran in the sixth inning to pull back within one. Center fielder Tyler Wrinkle reached on the error to begin the inning and with two outs Hicks doubled in three runs; rounding in third baseman Bud Britt, left fielder Anthony Doss and Wrinkle. Hicks was thrown out at third to end the inning trying to stretch the double into a triple. The Blazers did not threaten again as closer Jose Samayoa retired the side in order in the seventh to pick up the save.

Belhaven (32-21, 14-15 SSAC) was led in the first game by Hicks who drove in three of the four runs on the three run double. Hicks finished the contest with two hits including a double and a triple. Wheeler had a double and an RBI and Doss collected a hit and scored a run. Brandon McHenry started on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout. McHenry was tagged with the loss and dropped to 4-2 on the season.

Lee (45-8-1, 25-4 SSAC) was led by Saez with a pair of hits and three runs batted in. Saez connected on the two run home run in the top of the fifth that proved to be the difference in the game. Barber had one hit and the other Lee RBI. Kris Hall ran his pitching record to 9-0 on the season thanks to a six inning outing. Hall gave up four hits and four runs (one earned) with two walks and four strikeouts. Samayoa notched the save with a scoreless seventh frame.

Game Two
Lee led from start to finish in the second game taking advantage of an error to get on the board in the top of the second. Right fielder Corey Davis reached on an errant throw by Britt at third and scored on a base hit by left fielder Mike Moore. The Flames increased the lead to 3-0 in the third on single to left center by Barber accounting for the innings first run. Barber proceeded to steal second and third and scored on a throw by Wheeler that deflected off Britt's glove and went into left field.

Belhaven rallied to close the gap to 3-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Dillon Berry and Wrinkle had RBI singles to drive in courtesy runner Justin Hill and then Berry respectively. Hill stole second base to get into scoring position and Berry setup Wrinkle's RBI by advancing to second on a passed by catcher Taylor Comford. Unfortunately, those would be the only two Blazer runs in the contest. Lee capped the night on a sac fly by Moore that plated pinch runner Matt Ellis in the eighth resulting in the 4-2 final.

Belhaven was limited to two runs on eight hits in the second game by four different Lee pitchers. Right fielder Tom Wertz, Hicks, and Berry each had two hits. Berry added an RBI to his stat line and Wrinkle drove in the Blazers second run on a base hit in four trips to the plate. Brett Blaise started the game on the bump and pitched 2.1 innings, surrendering three runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout. The loss was charged to Blaise sending his record to 4-4.

Lee had two runs batted in from left fielder Mike Moore on a base hit and a sacrifice fly. Barber drove in a run and scored a run on a base hit while also swiping two bases. Kyle Briner earned the victory in relief, tossing 2.2 innings of shutout baseball. He gave up two hits and posted two strikeouts for his second win of the season.

Belhaven will play its final regular season game on Saturday and can clinch an SSAC playoff spot with a win or a loss by Brewton Parker at William Carey. The Blazers could still finish as high as sixth place with a win coupled by a victory by Brewton-Parker over William Carey and a loss by Mobile against Southern Wesleyan. Saturday's first pitch is slated for 1:00 PM at Smith-Wills Stadium.