Box Score CLINTON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team rallied from a four run deficit only to see Mississippi College come back to plate the winning run in the bottom of the ninth, in an 8-7 final at Frierson Field Tuesday night. The Blazers, ranked 8th in the latest NAIA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, suffered their first Maloney Series loss of the season and first to the Choctaws since 2010.

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"We didn't play a very good ballgame tonight," Belhaven Head Coach Hill Denson said. "We put a lot of leadoff runners at the beginning of innings and they took advantage of that. Give credit to Mississippi College, they played well and were able to get the win."

Belhaven (26-8) struck first in the top of the third off Choctaw starting pitcher Zac Tucker without the aid of a hit. Tucker issued back to back walks to Reagan Rutledge and Emilio DeSilva to start the inning. Dominick Francia eventually plated Rutledge on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

Mississippi College (9-11) fought right back in their half of the third with three runs on two hits. There was also a crucial error by the Blazers that gave the Choctaws and extra out to work with. Marty Stringfellow lifted a sacrifice fly to center while Chris Casto picked up an RBI single and then scored from third on a pickoff attempt before the out was recorded on the other runner at second.

The Choctaws added two more runs in the four on a two run single to left by Kyle Blount to make it a 5-1 game. Another Belhaven error led to the two runs that were eventually recorded, making all five to that point unearned.

The Blazers got back in the game in the fifth thanks to three runs on the strength of two hits. Paul Pickerrell got things rolling with an RBI single up the middle followed by a throwing error on the part of the Choctaw defense that permitted DeSilva to touch home plate. Gabe Wilson reached on a fielder's choice and in the process was credited with an RBI.

Mississippi College tacked on solo runs in the fifth and sixth before Belhaven pulled even with three more runs in the seventh. With the bases loaded and two outs, James Peterson delivered a clutch two run single to left and Brayden Dykes followed suit with the game tying base hit to left, rounding in Hunter Sutton on the play.

Neither team produced a run in the eighth, sending the game to the ninth frame tied 7-7. The Blazers let a scoring opportunity slip past in the top of the ninth and it would prove to be costly. Francia doubled to lead off the inning and eventually he along with Sutton were standing on second and third respectively with one out. Relief pitcher Blake Mcilwain wiggled off the hook by striking out Peterson and Boomer Scarborough to end the inning.

Scarborough, who came on to pitch the eighth, went back out to work the ninth and ran into trouble. Tate Ratcliff led off with a single and with two outs and the bases loaded stood on third. Zach Evans worked the count full against Scarborough and on the final pitch of the game, picked up an RBI. Scarborough just missed with a fast ball low and outside on the 3-2 pitch sending Ratcliff home from third for the game winner.

Ben Allison started the game and went four innings for the Blazers en route to the no decision. Allison gave up five runs, all unearned, on seven hits with two strikeouts. Six of the eight Choctaw runs Tuesday night were unearned. Scarborough (4-4) suffered the loss, allowing one run on one hit with three walks and two strikeouts.

DeSilva, Pickerrell, and Dykes led the Belhaven bats with two hits apiece. DeSilva and Pickerrell scored two runs each while Peterson picked up two RBI. Francia's double in the ninth was the only extra base hit for either side.

Mcilwain ran his record on the hill to 3-1 with the win in relief Tuesday night for the Choctaws. He pitched two scoreless innings, permitting one hit while walking one and striking out two. Kyle Blount had two hits and two runs batted in at the plate while Evans picked up two hits and an RBI to lead Mississippi College.

The Blazers will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon in another Maloney Series matchup at Millsaps College. The first pitch is slated for 4:00 PM.

"We have to put this one behind us and come back and play better tomorrow," Denson added. "We have to tighten up our defense and throw strikes as a pitching staff."