Box Score
FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. - The Belhaven baseball team lost game one of its three game Southern States Athletic Conference series at Emmanuel College Friday night 6-5. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, built a 4-0 lead only to see the Lions rally for a 6-5 win on the strength of two home runs.

Things looked promising for Belhaven (32-17, 15-10 SSAC) when the team pulled in front with two runs in the top of the first inning. Left fielder Dominick Francia walked to start the inning, stole second, and moved to third with one out on a single off the bat of third baseman Jason Hicks. Hicks went to second on a passed ball and he along with Francia were chased home on a two out two run double by first baseman Bud Britt.

The Blazers tacked on two more runs in the second against Emmanuel starter Mark Shevock. DH Hamilton Harper singled to center, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Josiah Richard and crossed the plate on an RBI base hit by second baseman Ryne Cook. Hicks plated the second run on a double to left center field to make a 4-0 game.

Unfortunately at that point, Belhaven's bats cooled off while the Lions began to heat up. Left fielder Desmond Harp blasted a two run home run in bottom of the second slicing the Blazers lead in half to 4-2. Then in the third, Emmanuel (26-18, 9-13 SSAC) used the long ball again to tally three more runs. Belhaven starting pitcher Jonathan Thompson got the first two hitters out on line drives, but then walked first baseman Michael Granda and Harp to put runners on first and second. Left fielder Tori Patterson launched a three homer over the left center field wall to put the Lions in front 5-4.

Emmanuel tacked on run number sixth in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Ahmmad William extending the lead to 6-4. It would prove to be a crucial score for the Lions.

Belhaven tried to rally in the seventh, but could only muster one run after loading the bases twice in the inning. Right fielder Emilio DeSilva drove in courtesy runner Joshua Bouldin on a fielder's choice trimming Emmanuel's lead to 6-5. However, that's the closest the Blazers would get the rest of the way. They were unable to seriously threaten in either the eighth or ninth frames, although they had some other chances at different points earlier in the game. Unfortunately, Belhaven couldn't come up with the clutch hit and ended the night stranding 10 men on base.

Belhaven was led at the plate by Hicks and Britt who each had two hits. Britt had two RBI in a double while Hicks drove in one run on an RBI double. Thompson started the game for the Blazers, allowing five runs in 2.2 innings. The loss drops his record to 2-3.

Emmanuel was powered by Harp who had three hits including the two run home run. Patterson launched the three run home run in the third that put the Lions in front for good. Shevock (6-4) tossed five innings and earned the win allowing four runs on six hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. Williams Mizrahi notched his fourth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning.

Belhaven will wrap up the three game SSAC series on Saturday at 12 PM with a doubleheader.