Box Score
Jackson, Miss.-Belhaven University scored nine runs and pounded out 17 hits en route to a 9-6 victory over Missouri Baptist University in game five of the 2010 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round on Wednesday at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers had six extra base hits including two home runs to help vault them into Thursday night's championship game.

Belhaven (42-15, 2nd Seed) took an early lead with a run in the top half of the first inning. Craig Dean delivered a clutch two out single to center field to make it 1-0 Blazers after a half inning of play. Missouri Baptist (43-13, 1 Seed) battled back with some two out magic of their own when Adrian Martinez drove a two out bases loaded single into center field plating two runs which gave the Spartans a 2-1 edge.

The Blazers then took the momentum back in the top of the third with six runs off starting pitcher Rashad Tucker who had only lost once this season. Timmy Foster brought in the first two runs on a double to left center. It was Foster's NAIA leading 30th double of the season and it put Belhaven back in front for good at 3-2. Craig Dean then followed with an RBI base hit to center, Brandon Benton dropped an RBI double down the right field line, Derek Tortorich chased home a run with a sacrifice fly to left, and Drew Dillard capped the scoring with a run scoring single to left field.

Belhaven maintained their 7-2 advantage until the fourth when the Spartans made a bid to get back in the game. Trevor Sampson came through with a two out two run single in the fourth and then in the fifth Missouri Baptist cut the deficit to two runs as Matt Holliman blasted his 19th home run of the season over the wall in right center to make it a 7-5 game in favor of Belhaven.

Belhaven then tacked on a couple of insurance runs on a two out home run by Lake Eiland in the sixth followed by another solo shot off the bat of Foster to lead off the top of the ninth inning. However, trailing 9-5 going to the bottom of the ninth, Missouri Baptist did not go down without a fight. The Spartans scored a run on a base hit by Billy Mansfield and had the tying run at the plate against Belhaven closer Wade Broyles. Broyles was able to buckle down and strike out Gutierrez to end the game and get his 12 save of the year.

Chris Bennett got the start for Belhaven on the mound and pitched five innings for the win to go to 6-4 on the season. Bennett allowed five runs on eight hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Paul Faulkenberry tossed 2.2 innings in relief and did not allow a run while giving up just two hits. Wade Broyles went 1.1 innings and surrendered a run on two hits. Broyles notched his 12th save of the season. Foster led the Blazers at the plate going 4 for 5 with a home run and three runs batted in. Dean had three hits and 2 RBI's while Eiland had three hits including a home run.

Rashad Tucker took the loss working 2 plus innings with seven runs on eight hits given up. Tucker's record drops to 7-2 on the season. Martinez had four hits in five at bats with 2 RBI's. Aaron Philips collected two hits while Sampson had a hit and two runs batted in.

Belhaven will move on the championship game Thursday night at 6:30. Missouri Baptist will play Texas Wesleyan in the loser's bracket at 3:00 PM Thursday with the winner advancing to take on the Blazers. All the play-by-play action of the Belhaven and Missouri Baptist game can be heard via Stretch Internet through the Belhaven Athletics website starting with the pregame show at 3:00 PM. Video highlights of Wednesday's game courtesy of WJTV and Jason Hurst can be viewed by clicking here.