The No. 8-ranked Belhaven University baseball team suffered a 7-2 loss to Piedmont on Saturday at Loudermilk Field in DeMorest, Georgia. The Lions scored first in the opening inning with a leadoff single, stolen base, and groundout to take a 1-0 lead, according to the school.
Piedmont extended its lead in the third inning with a rally that included a walk, single, and a run-scoring hit. A grand slam to left field pushed the lead to 6-0 and proved to be the difference in the game. Despite limiting further damage, Belhaven faced a significant deficit.
The Blazers scored their first run in the fourth inning. Nick Thornton drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by Austin Canale, cutting the lead to 6-1. Belhaven added another run in the fifth when Trey Smith hit a double and Blake McCarthy drove in a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2.
Belhaven threatened in multiple innings but was unable to capitalize with timely hits. The bullpen kept the game within reach, with Caleb Menard and Hayden Roberts combining for three scoreless innings. Roberts worked out of a jam in the sixth and stranded a runner in the seventh, maintaining hope for the Blazers.
Piedmont added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI hit following a single and a walk, making the final score 7-2. Belhaven’s last rally in the ninth was thwarted when Easton Humphrey singled and stole second, but the team could not rally further.
Belhaven returns home to Trustmark Park on Tuesday to face Millsaps in the Cowboy Maloney Series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., according to the school’s athletics department.
Follow @BelhavenBlazers on X and Instagram and like the team on Facebook for updates. Fans can also support Belhaven Athletics through Team Green Giving.
