Box Score
Oklahoma City, OK-The Belhaven baseball team lost a 10 inning game against Oklahoma City University Friday afternoon 10-9 and suffered their first lost in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Blazers, the number three seed in the tournament, gave the top seeded Stars all they could handle by rallying from a 9-3 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Belhaven started the comeback with one in the seventh and then five in the eighth to knot the score at 9-9 and gave themselves a chance to win the game in the 9th and 10th innings. However, Belhaven could not squeeze out another clutch hit to drive in the go ahead run.

Belhaven (44-17) found themselves behind by three runs with two innings in the books as Oklahoma City (45-10) recorded a run in the first and two more in the second. The Blazers got on the board in the third with a run on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Doss that plated Jimmy Gilford who had walked with one out in the inning.

The Stars then fought back to score three in the fourth while adding two in the sixth and one in the seventh. The Blazers put up solo runs in the fourth and fifth innings and trailed 9-3 heading into the seventh. Belhaven's run in the fourth came in on an RBI fielder's choice by Tyler Wrinkle followed by an RBI base hit by Matt Discon in the fifth. In the seventh, Lake Eiland scored on a misplayed ground ball by third baseman Scott Dalrymple.

The Blazers stormed back in the eighth on the strength of an RBI single by Wrinkle and a two run bases loaded single off the bat of Doss. The fourth run of the inning scored on a wild throw by right fielder Matt Presley which closed the gap to 9-8. Doss was also able to advance two bases on the error and was standing at third base with just one out. Tortorich then hit another hard ground ball to Dalrymple who was playing in at third base to try and cut off the run. The ball glanced off his glove and rolled into shallow left field allowing Doss to cross the plate and knot the score at 9-9. Ryan Saunders followed by shooting a single to left field putting runners on first and second base. Matt Discon made a bid to give Belhaven the lead, but second baseman Dearth Parker stopped the ground ball deep in the whole at second and threw out Discon. Jordan Brewer then flew out with the bases loaded to end the inning.

After watching Belhaven tie the game, Oklahoma City scored what would be the winning run in the 10th on a bases loaded RBI groundout off the bat of Austin Messerli to make it a 10-9. Belhaven put the winning run at second in the bottom of the 10th, but a groundout to short by Wrinkle ended the game and gave Oklahoma City the win.

Eiland led the Blazers at the plate going 5 for 6 with three runs scored on the day. Doss was 3 for 3 with three runs batted in and Wrinkle went 1 for 6 with 2 RBI's. Discon picked up an RBI on a base hit and Saunders finished the game going 2 for 3 with a run scored. Belhaven pounded out 14 hits, but let some other opportunities slip by the boards stranding 15 men on base throughout the course of the game. Graham Upshaw (1-1) took the loss for Belhaven as he worked two innings allowing one run without giving up a hit. He hit two batters and one of them proved to be the game winner. Brett Blaise started and pitched the first 4.1 innings surrendering six runs on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts. The Blazer pitching staff struggled with control Friday afternoon issuing eight walks while hitting four batters.

Dearth Parker, Kirk Walker, and Austin Messerli all had two hits and two runs batted in for Oklahoma City to pace the Stars at the plate. Julien Pollard had two hits and one RBI followed by Matt Presley with one hit and one run batted in. Cody Crabaugh earned the win in relief working 1.2 innings in which he gave up two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Parker picked up his first save of the season by tossing a scoreless 10th inning.

Belhaven will be back in action Saturday morning at 11:00 AM and will play Fresno Pacific University who defeated  Doane College 9-2 Friday night. The winner of the 11:00 AM contest will then play Oklahoma City in the first championship game at 2:30 PM. Fans can catch all the play-by-play action through live audio courtesy of Stretch Internet by clicking here.