Box Score
Shreveport, LA-The Belhaven baseball team remained perfect to start the 2011 season thanks to an 8-7 win over 7th ranked Oklahoma City University Friday night in 12 innings. Anthony Doss had the game winning single for the Blazers who are ranked 12th in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Oklahoma City (0-2) went in front 1-0 in the top of the third inning after the game had remained scoreless through the first two innings. With two outs in the inning Ruben Sosa singled, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch by Allen Johnson, and came home on the first of three errors by shortstop Matt Discon.

However, Belhaven (4-0) would regroup in the bottom of the third with two runs of their own to gain the lead. Discon made up for the error with a leadoff single and Jimmy Gilford walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Lake Eiland followed with a single, but Discon was thrown out trying to score and then Anthony Doss struck out swinging for the second out. Drew Dillard then came up big with a two out base hit to center off pitcher Corey Theriot that plated Gilford and Eiland making it a 2-1 game.

Belhaven then came back with three runs in the fourth when loaded the bases with nobody out. Tom Wertz drove in the first run on a groundout to second that plated Moreno who had doubled to begin the inning. Two batters later, Gilford dropped a base hit to right cashing in two more runs to make it a 5-1 Belhaven lead. The Stars added another unearned run on an error by Discon in the top of the fifth and then vaulted back into the lead with a four spot in the seventh. The first run came in on a Kirk Walker single and then a triple by Miguel Beltran chased home two more runs. The fourth score was the result of Discon's third error and all of a sudden Oklahoma City had a 6-5 lead.

Belhaven came back to even things at 6-6 in the bottom of the seven on an RBI groundout to second base by Ryan Saunders. Neither team would score again until the top of the 11th when the Stars hit pay dirt again although the Blazers had a great opportunity in the ninth to win the game. Belhaven got a leadoff double from Tyler Wrinkle and a walk to Saunders put runners on first and second with nobody out. However, relief pitcher Steve Styck came in and got the Stars out of the jam to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the11th, catcher Chad Carman drove in Walker with an infield single to make it a 7-6 game. The Blazer kept the game alive with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning as Tom Wertz plated a run on a fielder's choice to send the game to the 12th tied at 7-7. Belhaven kept Oklahoma City off the board in the top of the frame and put the game away in the bottom of the inning. Gilford led off the inning with a walk and Eiland moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt. Pitcher Rich Hawkins sent Gilford to third on a wild pitch setting up Doss's game winning single to left field giving the Blazers an 8-7 decision.

Belhaven was led at the plate by Gilford who went 2 for 4 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Dillard also collected a pair of hits and two runs batted in on the night for the Blazers. Doss, who came through with the clutch game winning hit, had an RBI and a run scored while Saunders also picked up a hit and an RBI. Wertz did not have a hit, but recorded a pair of runs batted in on the night. As a team, Belhaven had 10 total hits including three that went for extra bases. Wrinkle, Moreno, and Gilford each notched a double in the win over the Stars.

Josh Clarke picked up his first win in relief going 4.2 innings allowing only one run on four hits. Clarke struck seven and walked only three and now has a save and a win in 2011. Allen Johnson started for Belhaven and fired 6.2 innings allowing six runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Only three of the six runs were earned due to three Belhaven errors. Nick Meekins went two thirds of an inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.

Oklahoma City University (0-2) was paced by Walker at the plate with two hits in six at bats resulting in three runs batted in. Ruben Sosa pounded out three hits and Miguel Beltran picked up a hit and two RBI's. Carman and Matt Presley were also credited with an RBI apiece for the Stars who also had 10 total hits in the game.

Rich Hawkins suffered the loss for Oklahoma City with 0.2 innings of work and one run allowed in the 12th frame. Corey Theriot got the ball to begin the game for the Stars and went the first six innings allowing five runs on six hits. He struggled with his control issuing seven walks with four strikeouts. Zac Tidholm was charged with the other Belhaven run as he did not record an out and allowed one hit and a walk.

Belhaven will be back in action on Saturday afternoon as they take on LSU-Shreveport in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM. Fans can hear all the play-by-play action through the LSU-Shreveport athletics website by clicking here.