Box Score
JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team lost game one of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference series Thursday night to William Carey University 6-0 at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers, who are ranked 21st in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll and were celebrating senior day, couldn't get much going at the plate against pitcher Jake Fabre who tossed a complete game shutout. The loss drops Belhaven into fourth place in the SSAC, one game behind the Crusaders.

William Carey (32-19, 18-10 SSAC) got all the runs they would need in the first inning when right fielder Scott Fabre drove an RBI single through the left side of the infield, plating shortstop Sean Hodges for a 1-0 lead. The highlight of the night for Belhaven (35-18, 17-11 SSAC) came in the first when the Blazers turned a triple play. DH Vito Perna hit a chopper to third baseman Jason Hicks who stepped on the bag and fired to Ryne Cook at second base, who in turn relayed the ball to first. The triple play can be seen by clicking here.

Unfortunately, from that point on it was all William Carey. The Crusaders made it a 2-0 game in the second on a two out single by center fielder Jeremy Ferguson followed by three more runs in the third.

William Carey loaded the bases against pitcher Drew Broyles and made the most of the opportunity. Broyles hit third baseman Mitch Bohon accounting for the innings first run. Second baseman J.C. Cassidy followed Bohon with a sacrifice fly to center fielder and Perna scored on a wild pitch by Jared Miller to cap the inning.

Meanwhile, Fabre completely shut down the Belhaven offense and allowed just one runner to reach second base. The Blazers best chance to score was the fifth when center fielder Reagan Rutledge and DH Daniel Gilbert both singled to put runners on first and second. However, Fabre struck out shortstop Josiah Richard to end the inning.

William Carey tacked on another run in the ninth when first baseman Cade LeBlanc singled home Fabre to make it 6-0.

Fabre allowed just four hits while walking one and striking out nine Blazer hitters. Fabre came into the weekend fourth in the NAIA in total strikeouts (91) and with Thursday's win moves to 7-5 on the season.

Scott Fabre had a 3 for 4 night at the plate for William Carey and in the process picked up an RBI and two runs scored. Hodges had two hits followed by Cassidy, LeBlanc, Bohon, and Ferguson with a hit and RBI each.

Caleb Baucum (0-1) got his first start of the year for Belhaven on the mound and ended up being tagged with the loss. Baucum pitched two innings and allowed two runs on three hits with a walk and one strikeout. The pitching staff as a whole struggled with control, issuing three walks while hitting six William Carey batters.

Hicks led Belhaven at the plate with a pair of singles in three official at bats. Hicks reached base three times by working the only walk against Fabre all night. Rutledge and Gilbert had the only other two hits for the Blazers.

Belhaven will look to regroup on Friday when they face William Carey in a doubleheader to close the regular season. The Blazers still have a chance at third place in the SSAC if they can come away with two victories. Friday's first game at Smith-Wills Stadium is scheduled for 4:00 PM.