Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga.-The Belhaven baseball team lost to top seeded Faulkner University (Ala.) 11-4 on Thursday in the opening round of the Southern States Athletic Conference at Golden Park in Columbus, GA. The Blazers found themselves battling from behind for most of the game and a five run fifth inning by the Eagles put the contest out of reach. Belhaven will now try and keep the season going heading into the losers bracket on Friday.

Faulkner (45-9), ranked third in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, jumped out in front with two runs in the second inning on an RBI double by second baseman Daniel Cayton and a sacrifice fly from first baseman John Gunnels. Belhaven (32-23) broke for an unearned run in the fourth against the nations top pitcher when it comes to wins and losses Corey Black. The Blazers took advantage of an error by shortstop Craig Massey that allowed second baseman Jason Hicks to reach to open the inning. Hicks eventually scored on an RBI groundout by DH Jamie Bruno to cut the deficit to 2-1.

Faulkner took the wind out of the Blazers sails in the fifth scoring five times to build a 7-1 lead. Massey rounded in centerfielder Brook Boudreaux for the innings first tally to make it 3-1. Belhaven pitcher Allen Johnson then faced a bases loaded situation with two outs and was a strike away from getting out of the jam, but right fielder Matt Parker delivered the hit of the game by clearing the wall in right for a grand slam home run.

Belhaven first baseman Ryan Saunders posted a run in the fifth on a solo homer to left center to cut the deficit to 7-2. However, as was the trend throughout the afternoon, the Eagles answered with another run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Massey. The Blazers rallied with two runs in the seventh on a two run single off the bat of Hicks pulling them back within four at 8-4. The Eagles countered again with RBI singles by left fielder Tucker Willard and third baseman Brennan Olive in the eighth and in the ninth Boudreaux capped the day, driving in a run on a double down the left field line.

Saunders led Belhaven at the plate going 2 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI on his third home run of the season. Hicks had one hit in five plate appearances that earned him two runs batted in. Left fielder Anthony Doss and right fielder Tom Wertz had the only other hits in the contest. Bruno was credited with one RBI.

Johnson pitched the first seven innings and suffered the loss on the mound as he falls to 6-7 this season. Johnson gave up eight runs on nine hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Nick Meekins permitted two runs in one inning on the hill and Mark Husband was responsible for Faulkner's 11th run on the day.

Faulkner pounded out 14 hits and had two players with three hits each. Massey and Cayton were both 3 for 5 with Massey picking up two RBI's and Cayton added one. Parker led the Eagles with four runs batted in on the grand slam. Parker ended the afternoon 2 for 4 while also crossing the plate twice. Boudreaux and Willard also contributed two hits and an RBI each. The Eagles were active on the bases swiping seven bases in the game. Antonio Kendrick led the charge with three of the seven.

Black ran his record to 11-1 on the season logging 6.1 innings in which he gave up four runs on five hits with four walks and nine strikeouts. Black struck out the first four batters he faced in the game. Cory Hamilton and Joe Grzywhcz teamed up to shutout the Blazers over the final 2.2 frames.

Belhaven will try and keep the season alive on Friday in the losers bracket facing Southern Polytechnic State University at 9:00 AM central time. Southern Poly was sent to the losers bracket by Shorter who defeated the Hornets 6-4 on Thursday.