JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven baseball team suffered their first setback of the season on Friday, falling 13-8 to 14th-ranked Missouri Baptist at Smith-Wills Stadium. The loss snapped a five-game winning streak for the Blazers, while the Spartans improved to 5-0 on the campaign.

"We took a tough loss against a good team tonight," Head Coach Hill Denson said. "Hopefully, we can regroup and focus on the next game."

Leadoff man Reagan Rutledge paced the Blazers offense three base hits, two walks, four runs, and two stolen bases. Paul Pickerrell was the only Belhaven player with more than one RBI, as he extended his team lead in that category to 13 through six games.

Chris Good received the starting nod for the home team, surrendering six runs on ten base hits through 4.1 innings. The bullpen provided little relief against the potent Spartan lineup, as David Hill was saddled with the loss. Every Belhaven pitcher to toe the rubber allowed a run, as the Spartans recorded 16 total hits in their fifth consecutive win.

Randy Wynne countered with a highly effective performance out of the Missouri Baptist bullpen, hurling five innings and allowing just one earned run in his first victory. Shortstop Brent Zimmerman and outfielder Orlando Olivera combined for six hits and eight RBI in the heart of the Spartan order, providing Wynne with more than enough run support.

The Blazers return to action on Saturday, when they will host the defending National Champion Cumberland Bulldogs in the final game of the Belhaven Invitational. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm from Smith-Wills.