The No. 8-ranked Belhaven Baseball team lost 7-1 to Rhodes on Tuesday night at Trustmark Park. The Blazers, now 14-3 overall, will begin conference play Friday against Maryville.
Belhaven took an early lead in the third inning. Austin Canale drew a leadoff walk, and Nick Thornton followed with a single. Blake McCarthy walked to load the bases. Hayden Roberts then hit a single up the middle, scoring Canale and giving the Blazers a 1-0 lead.
Logan McNamara pitched well early for Belhaven, allowing just three hits through four innings. He avoided trouble in the fourth inning after two singles put runners on base, recording back-to-back pop-ups to escape the inning.
The game turned in the fifth inning. Rhodes loaded the bases with a walk and two singles. An RBI single tied the game, and a subsequent two-run single gave Rhodes a 3-1 lead. A close play at the plate was cut down on a fielder’s choice, but the damage was done.
Rhodes extended its lead in the seventh inning with a two-run home run, making it 5-1. The visitors added two more runs in the eighth inning on an error and two hits, pushing the advantage to 7-1. Rhodes’s bullpen held Belhaven to just one hit over the final 6.1 innings, striking out 12 batters in the process.
The Blazers will open conference play on Friday with a game against Maryville at 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday. Fans can follow updates on @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram or like the team on Facebook. Supporters are encouraged to visit Team Green Giving to support Belhaven Athletics.
