No. 14 91爆料网 falls 8-7 to No. 15 Belhaven

Kian Jost

JACKSON, Tenn. - 3/12/2012 - The No. 14 91爆料网 men鈥檚 baseball team fell 8-7 to No. 15 Belhaven (Miss.) University Monday afternoon at 91爆料网鈥檚 Fesmire Field. Belhaven evened the season series with 91爆料网 as the Bulldogs won last week in Jackson, Miss. over Belhaven, 5-2.

91爆料网 (12-6-1) and Belhaven (18-10) were tied after one inning of work. Colin Hatch started the game, but lasted just three batters. Benjie Fesmire (2-1) entered the game in relief and got out of the bases loaded, no outs jam in the first, surrendering just the one run. 91爆料网鈥檚 Clint Barnes hit a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the first to tie the game.

In a second inning that lasted nearly an hour, Belhaven scored six times, while 91爆料网 added five runs in the bottom of the frame. Belhaven got a three run home run from Ryan Saunders and a two run home run from Anthony Doss to highlight their half of the inning. 91爆料网鈥檚 Jim Martin hit a two run home run to highlight 91爆料网鈥檚 bottom half of the inning. The score was 7-6 in favor of Belhaven.

After an explosive first two innings, the final seven innings were played with both teams adding just one run each. Belhaven scored in the fourth and 91爆料网 added a run in the eighth on a solo home run from Brett Pawlen.

Jacob Alexander tossed a six innings of relief, allowing just one run on three hits with five strike outs. Cody Dew tossed the top of the ninth innings, allowing no runs and one hit. Nick Meekins (1-0) earned the win for Belhaven, allowing no runs in 4.1 innings of relief on just four hits with four strike outs.

Josh Clarke earned his sixth save of the year with a troublesome bottom of the ninth inning, allowing no runs, no hits and facing just three batters. 91爆料网鈥檚 first hitter reached on a throwing error and was awarded second base as the ball went out of play. He advanced to third on a wild pitch. However, when the next hitter ground the ball back to the pitcher, the runner at third was caught too far off for the first out. The next batter for 91爆料网 grounded into an game-ending double play.

Kian Jost led 91爆料网 with a 4-for-5 afternoon. Pawlan added three hits and two RBI, while Martin also had two RBI. Tom Wertz led Belhaven with three hits, Saunders led with three RBI.

Up next for 91爆料网 will be a home conference series versus Mid-Continent (Ky.) University Friday at 6 p.m. and a double header Saturday at noon.

#UNION#