Box Score
HATTIESBURG, Miss.-The Belhaven baseball team lost the opening game of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference series at William Carey Friday night 12-2. The Blazers, ranked 22nd in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, fell behind 4-0 after two innings and could never recover.

William Carey pounded out four hits and was aided by a Belhaven error in that second inning that set the tone for the night. Right fielder Javier Ortiz broke the ice with a two run triple to the gap in left center to put the Crusaders ahead. Center fielder Ernie Triplett drove in the second run on an infield single and then Triplett crossed the plate on a throwing error by shortstop Dillon Berry for the fourth run of the frame.

Belhaven bounced back with two runs in the top of the third on a two run single by centerfielder Tyler Wrinkle. However, the Crusaders put the game out of reach in the fourth, plating four more runs. Designated hitter Quin Stokes powered in two runs on a double to right to cap the inning. William Carey went on to tack on two more runs in the sixth and the seventh that put the run rule into effect. Stokes rounded in the game winner in the seventh on a triple to center field sending the Crusaders to the victory.

Belhaven (29-14, 13-9 SSAC) had two hit games from second baseman Jason Hicks, DH Kyle Wheeler, and Wrinkle to guide the offense. Wrinkle had the only RBI's of the game driving in both Blazer runs in the third inning. Right fielder Tom Wertz, third baseman Bud Britt, and catcher Clay Bonds had one hit apiece. The Blazers ended the night with nine singles as a team. Allen Johnson suffered the loss allowing eight runs on nine hits with two strikeouts as he falls to 6-5 on the season. Matthew Shaw tossed the final 3.1 innings and was charged with four runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

William Carey (24-17, 11-10 SSAC) was led by DH Quin Stokes who had four hits and four runs batted in. Javier Ortiz drove in three runs on two hits in the game and got the Crusaders on the board in the second. Triplett had three hits and an RBI and third baseman Mitch Bohon drove in two runs in the contest. Left fielder Daniel Covert also had three of William Carey's 16 hits in game one of the series. Pitcher Taylor Martin went the distance logging seven innings for the win. Martin struck out 11 and walked only two.

Belhaven will be back in action Saturday in a doubleheader at William Carey starting at 1:00 PM. Saturday's games are the SSAC games of the week and fans can view all the action by clicking here.