MARSHALL, TX - Belhaven opened NCAA Regional play Friday afternoon against a familiar opponent, but a pair of big innings from Rhodes proved costly as the Blazers fell 14-6 in the opening game of the Marshall Regional at East Texas Baptist.
The loss moves Belhaven into an elimination game Saturday morning against Concordia (Texas) at 11:00 a.m. CST. The winner will advance to play again Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. against another elimination-game survivor.
Friday marked Belhaven's first game in the NCAA Regional and the program's second straight appearance in the national tournament.
Â
Belhaven answered Rhodes right away after the Lynx struck first in the top of the opening inning. A two-run homer gave Rhodes an early lead, but the Blazers immediately settled in offensively.
Nick Thornton opened the bottom half with a single before
Austin Canale reached and moved into scoring position.
Trey Smith brought home the first run with an RBI groundout, and
JD Weed followed with a two-out RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 2-2 after one inning.
Rhodes regained the lead in the second on a solo home run before breaking things open in the fourth. The Lynx loaded the bases and came through with several timely extra-base hits, including a two-run homer later in the inning that stretched the lead to 8-2. Belhaven worked through traffic at different points, including getting out of an early jam with runners on base in the third, but Rhodes consistently capitalized with two outs.
Another run in the fifth pushed the deficit to 9-2 before the Blazers responded with their best offensive stretch of the afternoon.
Belhaven climbed back into the game in the sixth. Canale started the inning with a single before Weed lined an RBI base hit into left field. Moments later,
Hayden Roberts delivered an RBI single up the middle, and
Owen Abney followed with another run-scoring hit to left-center. A failed pickoff attempt allowed another run to score, trimming the deficit to 9-6 and bringing new life into the dugout. Â ?
The inning highlighted several players who continued strong stretches at the plate dating back to the CCS Tournament. Abney and Roberts again came through with key hits in run-scoring spots, while Weed added another multi-RBI performance.
Any momentum Belhaven gained was short-lived as Rhodes answered in the top of the seventh. The Lynx loaded the bases before a two-run single opened the inning back up. A wild pitch later in the frame added another run and pushed the lead back to six. Rhodes added a solo homer in the eighth to cap the scoring.
Belhaven threatened briefly late but could not generate another rally against the Lynx bullpen.
Belhaven finished with eight hits on the afternoon. Canale, Weed, Roberts, and Abney each collected RBI hits during the sixth-inning rally, while Thornton continued to set the table near the top of the lineup. The Blazers also forced Rhodes into several stressful innings early, but left multiple runners on base in key moments.
Belhaven now turns its attention to an elimination matchup Saturday morning against Concordia (Texas) at 11:00 a.m. CST. The winner of that game will advance to another elimination contest Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. as the Blazers continue fighting to keep their postseason run alive.
For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers onÂ
Twitter andÂ
Instagram, and like us onÂ
Facebook. To support Belhaven Athletics check outÂ
Team Green Giving.
