Box Score JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team dropped game one of a three game Southern States Athletic Conference series to William Carey University 5-4 Friday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium. After trailing 5-1, the Blazers rallied for a run in the eighth and two in the ninth, but were unable to come up with an additional hit that potentially could have scored runners from second and third in the final frame.

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"We got off to a slow start at the plate and Josh Wood did a great job for William Carey on the mound," Head Coach Hill Denson said. "Our hitters were behind in the count most of the night 1-2, 0-2 and that was a major factor in the outcome."

William Carey (7-6, 2-2 SSAC) got on the board in the second inning with three hits and a walk off starting pitcher Boomer Scarborough. DH Vito Perna walked to begin the inning and eventually crossed the plate on a single to left center by third baseman Michael Wells. The key hit would come with two outs off the bat of centerfielder Jeremy Ferguson, who brought in two more runs with a single through the middle of the infield.

Belhaven (9-3, 0-1 SSAC) chipped away at the deficit in the fourth when second baseman Paul Pickerrell collected the first of his game high three hits. He proceeded to steal second and was chased home on an RBI ground out by DH Brayden Dykes. Unfortunately, the Crusaders countered with two runs in the top half of the fifth without the aid of a hit, thanks to an error, wild pitch, and run scoring fielder's choice.

Behind 5-1 going into the eighth, Belhaven took advantage of a William Carey error to plate the second run. With two outs, pinch hitter Dan Ammirati singled to center leaving an at bat for Pickerrell. Pickerrell hit a ground ball to shortstop and legged out a base hit, but the throw by Sean Hodges was low and skipped into right field allowing Ammirati to score from first.

The final two runs in the ninth would also cross the plate after two men were out. Third baseman Gabe Wilson got hit by a pitch, centerfielder Reagan Rutledge singled, and catcher Hunter Sutton walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Emilio DeSilva singled home Wilson on a line drive base hit to right and a throwing error by right fielder Scott Fabre opened the door for Rutledge to touch home plate. However, with runners on second and third, closer Kyle Deckwa struck out Ammirati to save the game for Wood who went 8.2 innings for the win.

Scarborough suffered the loss on Friday for Belhaven, allowing five runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. The loss drops his record to 1-2 this season. Pickerrell led the Blazers bats with three hits in four trips to the plate. He also picked up his seventh stolen base of the season.

The win by Wood bumps his record to 2-1 for the Crusaders. He was charged with four runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Wells had three hits, and RBI, and a run scored to pace the William Carey offense. Ferguson ended the night with a hit and two runs batted in.

Belhaven and William Carey will conclude the series with a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM at Smith-Wills Stadium.