Box Score
JACKSON, Miss.-The Belhaven baseball team lost game three of its Southern States Athletic Conference series against third ranked Lee University Saturday afternoon 3-2 in 10 innings at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, fell in all three games losing 5-4 and 4-2 on Friday night. However, Belhaven's season will continue next weekend at the SSAC Tournament in Columbus, GA as the number eight seed in the field.

Belhaven (32-22, 14-16 SSAC) fell behind in the top of the fourth when Lee (46-8-1, 26-4 SSAC) rallied with two outs to grab a 1-0 edge. Right fielder Corey Davis doubled and scored on left fielder Mike Moore's single to right center. The Blazers bounced back with a run in the sixth when center fielder Tyler Wrinkle walked to begin the frame and crossed the plate on left fielder Anthony Doss's 21st double of the season to tie the game at 1-1.

The game didn't stay tied for long as Lee responded with a run in the top of the seventh to pull in front 2-1. Davis got the rally going again with a one out single followed by a Moore base hit to left field. The duo of Davis and Moore hurt the Blazers all afternoon as they combined to go 6 for 8 at the plate. Third baseman Roberto Duran rounded in Davis on another single to left field to pick up the RBI.

Belhaven answered in the home half of the seventh to knot the contest again at 2-2. Designated hitter Kyle Wheeler double to center field in the lead off at bat and moved to third on a wild pitch by reliever Mike Fasolo. Fasolo then walked pinch hitter Jaime Bruno and shortstop Dillon Berry  followed with a sacrifice squeeze bunt to cash in Wheeler from third base. Courtesy runner Justin Hill advanced to second base on the play, but was left stranded on the base as second baseman Jason Hicks grounded into a double play to end the inning after Wrinkle had reached on a single.

Neither team scored again until the top of the 10th when Lee plated the winning run. The Blazers had an opportunity in the ninth with right fielder Tom Wertz at second base and one out. Unfortunately, Joe Fabre struck out catcher Clay Bonds and pinch hitter Hamilton Harper to end the inning. Belhaven was 3 for 14 with runners on base and 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position on the day. The Flames took advantage of a leadoff triple by shortstop Edmanuel Rivera and a wild pitch from Robert Marzoni to notch the game winner.

Doss ended the game leading Belhaven with two hits that included his double in the sixth inning. Wheeler was 1 for 3 with a run scored and Wrinkle went 1 for 4 with a run scored. Wertz and Hicks also each had one of the Blazers six hits in the game. Pitcher Allen Johnson started and went 6.1 innings for one of his best outings of the season. Johnson limited the top offense in the NAIA to two runs on seven hits while striking out six. Marzoni ended up taking the loss in relief dropping to 1-1 on the season. Marzoni pitched one frame and gave up one run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Lee was led by Moore who went 4 for 4 with one run batted in. Davis ended the afternoon 2 for 4 with two runs scored and Saez had two hits in five plate appearances. The Flames pounded out 11 hits that included a pair of triples. Patrick Merkling started and shutout the Blazers through the first five innings. Relief pitcher James Rechenbach permitted Belhaven's first run in the sixth and Fasolo was tagged with the other. At the end of the day, Fabre (2-2) earned the win working two innings in relief. Andy Hillis recorded his sixth save with a scoreless 10th inning.

Belhaven will now head to Columbus, GA for the SSAC Tournament and will face top seeded Faulkner University on Thursday afternoon at 1:00 PM. For more information on this year's SSAC Tournament click here.