Box Score
MOBILE, Ala.- The Belhaven baseball team took game one of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference series at Spring Hill College 6-4  in 11 innings Friday night in Mobile, Alabama. The Blazers scored two runs in the top of the 11th and held off the Badgers in the home half of the frame to claim the victory.

Belhaven (30-15, 14-8 SSAC) grabbed an early lead scoring the game's first run in the top half of the first inning. Spring Hill starter Nick Schmiemeier retired the first two Blazer hitters, but ran into trouble by issuing two walks while hitting another batter to load the bases. Right fielder Emilio DeSilva came through in the clutch with a run scoring single that plated third baseman Jason Hicks from third. Courtesy runner Daniel Gilbert was thrown out at home by right fielder Jack Lauber to prevent a second run.

The Badgers bounced back with a run in the first followed by another tally in the second to take a 2-1 lead.  Third baseman Willie Floros singled home Spring Hill's first run and in the second Brian Sims gave the Badgers the lead with an RBI base hit. Spring Hill (14-26, 6-16 SSAC) had the opportunity to strike for more, but Belhaven starting pitcher Robert Marzoni kept them in check forcing the Badgers to leave four on base through the first two innings.

The Blazers pulled even in the third without the aid of a hit thanks to a passed ball charged to catcher Ryan Stevens. Left fielder Dominick Francia drew a leadoff walk, stole second, went to third on a ground ball, and scored on the passed ball to make it 2-2.

Francia would be at the center of the offense in the sixth when he gave Belhaven a 4-2 lead. Once again, the Blazers rallied with two outs when center fielder Reagan Rutledge reached on a single followed by walks to DH Hamilton Harper and pinch hitter Majer Entabi. That set the table for Francia who sliced a two run single to left vaulting the Blazers back in front.

Spring Hill pulled back to within one in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by first baseman John Hollingsworth off relief pitcher Andrew Gunn and then tied the game in the eighth on a bases loaded walk to Stevens. Austin McCann started the inning for Belhaven on the bump and gave up two hits before Josh Rogers came in to get the final two outs forcing the Badgers to leave three more runners on base. They would eventually strand 15 on the night.

In the 11th, Rutledge kicked things off with a single and stole second to get into scoring position. With one out, shortstop Josiah Richard reached first on a bunt single and Rutledge crossed the plate on a throwing error by relief pitcher Jonathan Billings. Another bunt single off the bat of second baseman Ryne Cook triggered another wild sequence of events that culminated in Richard crossing the plate on another Billings throwing error. Cook went to second on the play and Francia was thrown out over running the bag at third, but fortunately Belhaven's 6-4 lead held in the bottom of the 11th.

The Badgers didn't go quietly by putting the first two runners on base in the 11th, but Rogers buckled down to close out the contest. Rogers struck out Hollingsworth, induced a fielder's choice from left fielder Garrett Webb, and struck out DH Greg Hardnett to end the game.

Rogers pitched 3.2 innings and took home a well earned victory running his record to 4-2 on the season. Rogers did not allow a run, surrendered just two hits, walked two and struck out six. Marzoni had a no decision in his second strong start of the season. Marzoni fired six innings and gave up just two runs on four hits.

Belhaven had clutch hits from Francia and Rutledge to lead the offense. Francia collected two hits, two steals, and two RBI while Rutledge notched three hits, three stolen bases, and two runs scored. Cook, Hicks, and DeSilva also ended the night with one hit each. As a team, the Blazers tallied five more steals and nine total hits.

Spring Hill was led by Floros who had three hits and one run batted in. Sims placed two hits in the box score and had one run batted in for the Badgers. Billings was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings pitched.

Belhaven and Spring Hill will wrap up the series on Saturday afternoon with a double header starting at 1:00 PM.