Box Score
Jackson, MS-For the fourth time this season, the Belhaven baseball team went to extra innings and for the fourth time they succeeded in pulling out a win taking a 6-5 decision against 7th ranked Union University Tuesday afternoon at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers, who are receiving votes in the latest NAIA Top 25 Poll, plated the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning on a base hit by Jimmy Gilford.

Belhaven (25-10) scored the first three runs of the game starting in the second frame when they sent two across the plate. Both runs in the inning came with two outs as Matt Discon put the Blazers on the board with a single to left center chasing home Jordan Brewer from third base. Tyler Wrinkle then followed with a double into the left field corner which enabled Discon to score all the way from first to make it a 2-0 game.

Belhaven tacked on their third run in the fourth inning as catcher Alex Riser walked to begin the inning. Courtesy runner Justin Hill stole second base, moved to third on a ground out by Ryan Saunders, and then ran home on a wild pitch by Derek Roof.

Trailing 3-0, Union (24-6) mounted a comeback in the fifth scoring twice off of starting pitcher Brandon McHenry. McHenry gave up a base hit, walk, and another base hit to the first three hitters and then Brett Pawlen cashed in a run on a sacrifice fly to right field. Clint Barnes came up with a single to center field driving in the second run to cut Belhaven's edge to 3-2.

The Bulldogs pulled in front with three runs in the fifth taking advantage of a costly error. McHenry retired Kian Jost and Cole McAdams to start the inning, but issued a walk to Kevin Kirksey and surrendered a base hit to R.J. Rayborn to keep the inning going. Jordan Scott came in from the bullpen to face Tim Anderson who would then reach base on a misplayed ground ball by Discon at second base. With the bases loaded, Pawlen delivered a three run triple down the right field line giving Union a 5-3 advantage.

Paul Moreno opened the seventh inning with a single and Drew Dillard was hit by a pitch to begin a Blazer rally that tied the game. Brewer laid down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first was missed by Oscar Depablos allowing Moreno to score and Dillard to go to third base. Riser would drive in Dillard on a sacrifice fly to right field knotting the score at 5-5.

Union threatened to regain the lead in the top of the 10th loading the bases with three straight one out singles. However, Josh Clarke struck out Rayborn and Anderson to persevere the tie. Clarke would keep the Bulldogs off the board the rest of the way allowing the offense time to win the game in the 13th. Eiland led off the 13th with a double to left field and then Gilford plated him with a run scoring single to right field giving the Blazers a much needed 6-5 win.

Clarke (4-1) earned the win in relief pitching 3.2 innings allowing just one hit while striking out seven. Clarke was also the pitcher of record on the winning side for Belhaven in the 15 inning 1-0 win against the University of Mobile. McHenry started and pitched the first 5.2 innings allowing four runs on six hits. Only two of the four runs were earned due to the Discon error. Scott tossed a third of an inning followed by Allen Johnson who logged one scoreless inning. Golden Grasse had a strong outing firing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and Kiel Higginbotham added one third of an inning on the mound.

At the plate, Gilford led the way for Belhaven going 3 for 7 with an RBI while Wrinkle and Discon each had two hits and a run batted in. Saunders and Eiland also had multi hit games with two apiece. The Blazers had 14 hits as a team including doubles by Eiland and Wrinkle giving the team 67 two baggers this season.

Justin Bryan (0-1) suffered the loss for Union as he pitched 5.2 innings allowing one run on five hits. Derek Roof started the game and lasted 4.1 innings and was responsible for three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Cody Dew was charged with two runs in two innings of action in the center of the diamond.

Brett Pawlen paced the Bulldogs at the plate going 2 for 4 with four runs batted in including the triple in the sixth inning. Kevin Kirksey was 2 for 5 with a run scored and Barnes was 1 for 6 with the other run batted in for Union.

Belhaven will be back in action on Wednesday night when they host Tougaloo College at Smith-Wills Stadium beginning at 6:00 PM. Fans can follow all the action through live audio and stats courtesy of Stretch Internet by clicking here.