Box Score
JACKSON, Miss.- The Belhaven baseball team slipped to an early deficit and rallied late against 14^th ranked Missouri Baptist University, but the late charged wasn't enough to prevent a 6-3 loss to the Spartans Friday night at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers trailed 6-0 with two out in the ninth before a three run rally brought them within striking distance. Unfortunately, Missouri Baptist's lead was too much to overcome.
 
Two walks in the first inning hampered Belhaven starting pitcher David Hill, ultimately leading to a 2-0 edge for Missouri Baptist. Hill issued a free pass to shortstop Patrick Johnson and Pier Olivier-Dostaler before uncorking a wild pitch that allowed Johnson to score. Olivier-Dostaler came in on a ground ball off the bat of left fielder Ryan Gunhouse to make it a 2-0 lead.
 
The Spartans chalked up another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Garrett Yost extending the lead to 3-0. Missouri Baptist (1-0) got to Hill for two more runs in the sixth on a double by Ricky Pagan and a fielder's choice from catcher Garrett Vail cashed in the fifth Spartan run of the game.
 
Meanwhile, Missouri Baptist starting pitcher Julien Soucy cruised through the first five innings without allowing a base runner. His perfect game bid was cut short in the sixth when he walked left fielder Joshua Bouldin with two outs. Belhaven (5-3) didn't get its first hit until the seventh when DH Caleb Baucum legged out an infield single.
 
In the top of the seventh, the Spartans tacked on their final run of the night when third baseman Joseph Taylor doubled with two outs and trotted home on a Gunhouse RBI single up the middle.
 
Leading 6-0 in the eighth, the Spartans brought in relief pitcher Christopher Kenney who allowed one batter to reach, but kept Belhaven off the board heading into the ninth inning. In the ninth, Kenney proceeded to retire Bouldin on a line drive to second followed by a ground out to short by center fielder Reagan Rutledge to open the frame.
 
The Blazers, down to their final out in the game, found the offense starting with a walk to shortstop Daniel Gilbert followed by Baucum who picked up his second hit of the night to put runners on first and third. Catcher Kyle Wheeler singled down the right field line to drive in Gilbert while leaving runners on first and second. Kenney fired an errant pitch to the backstop allowing Baucum to go to third and Wheeler to second. Third baseman Bud Britt then made things real interesting with a two run single to center cutting the Missouri Baptist lead in half at 6-3. However, Kenney buckled down to strikeout second baseman Jason Hicks to end the game.
 
Hill suffered the loss on the mound for the Blazers, dropping his record to 1-2 on the season. Hill logged five innings allowing five runs on three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. Josh Rogers pitched the final four frames, surrendering one run on four hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
 
Baucum led Belhaven at the plate with two hits followed by Britt who had one hit and two runs batted in. Wheeler collected the other Blazer hit on the night and in the process notched his fifth RBI of the season. Belhaven was outhit Friday night 7-4.
 
Soucy earned the victory for Missouri Baptist in his debut outing of the season. Soucy completed seven innings, allowed just one hit, walked one, and struck out three. Kenney was charged with all three Blazer runs on three hits in two innings on the mound.
 
Gunhouse had two hits and two runs batted in for the Spartans to lead the attack. Taylor matched Gunhouse with two hits and two runs scored followed by Pagan with a hit and one run batted in. Shortstop Patrick Johnson did not have a hit, but was a difference maker on defense recording nine assists and three putouts.
 
Belhaven will conclude its three game series on Saturday against Missouri Baptist starting with game one of a doubleheader at 1:00 PM.