Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JACKSON, Miss. – The Belhaven baseball team saw the 2014 season come to a close Wednesday night in the championship game of the Jackson Bracket in NAIA Opening Round at Smith-Wills Stadium. The Blazers put themselves in contention earlier in the day with an 11-4 win over the University of Houston-Victoria. However, top seeded Oklahoma Wesleyan proved to be Belhaven's biggest nemesis, edging the Blazers in the final 8-7. The Eagles dealt the Blazers their other loss in the tournament on Tuesday 4-2.
 
(Box Score-HTML UHV) (Box Score-HTML OKWU)
"It's always tough to see a season come to an end, but I'm proud of the team and the effort they gave today," Belhaven Head Coach Hill Denson said. "We played well against a good team in Houston-Victoria and gave ourselves a chance at the title, but came up short against a great Oklahoma Wesleyan team. However, the team turned in a great season and that's something we can take pride in."
 
Belhaven (42-21) set the tone in the first inning against Houston-Victoria (25-33), scoring twice to take a 2-0 lead. The Blazers then added three in the fourth, five in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull away for the win. The Jaguars plated solo runs in the sixth and seventh before tacking on two more in the ninth.
 
Belhaven pounded out 14 total hits, led by Tyler Akins and James Peterson with three hits apiece. Peterson drove in two runs and Akins picked up one RBI while touching the plate three times. Dominick Francia collected two hits and two runs scored followed by Paul Pickerrell's two hits and one run scored. Emilio DeSilva had one hit and two runs batted in.
 
Rayko Bellmas (6-4) turned in another gem on the hill which led to a complete game victory. Bellmas scattered nine hits over the nine innings, allowing four runs with two walks and four strikeouts.
 
Houston-Victoria was led by Ryan Suescun's three hits and two RBI performance Wednesday afternoon. Matthew Herrera and Robert Zaragoza contributed one hit and one RBI apiece. The Blazers drove starting pitcher Andrew Walker from the game after 3.2 innings. Walker (2-3) suffered the loss by surrendering five runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.
 
Oklahoma Wesleyan (55-6) got the upper hand in the top of the first with two runs off Belhaven starter Chris Good. The Blazers then bounced back with four in the second to take a 4-2 lead. Peterson drove in the first run on an RBI base hit and then an error by third baseman Trae Bobo opened the door for three more. Bobo dropped an infield popup by Josiah Richard with two outs allowing Peterson to score and tie the game. Reagan Rutledge then delivered a two run single to put the Blazers in front.
 
The Eagles mounted a comeback with a run in the third, two in the fourth and two in the sixth to grab a 7-4 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. Belhaven countered in the sixth with a three run outburst after two men were out to tie the game. Peterson and Sutton were retired by Juan Berumen before Josiah Richard and Rutledge reached on a hit by pitch and walk respectively. DeSilva then drove a two run triple into the right corner chasing home both Richard and Rutledge. Pickerrell was up next and cashed in DeSilva on a base hit to right center.
 
The Eagles broke the tie in the top of the ninth on what ended up being a double steal. With runners on the corners and two outs, Gunner Joyce broke towards second base and drew a throw to first from catcher Hunter Sutton. Meanwhile, pinch runner John Davenport quickly sprinted home from third and slid in safely before a tag could be applied. The 8-7 lead stood up in the ninth after the Blazers were retired in order.
 
Rutledge had two hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored to guide the Belhaven offense. He also swiped his 64th base of the season, shattering the single season record for most steals in school history. DeSilva had one hit and two runs batted in followed by Peterson and Pickerrell with one hit and one RBI each.
 
Good got the start and the no decision for Belhaven on the mound. He surrendered five runs on eight hits in four innings of work. Austin McCann (4-4) suffered the loss in relief, permitting one run on two hits with one strikeout.
 
Rhett Acker picked up the win out of the pen for Oklahoma Wesleyan and improved his record to 8-1. He limited the Blazers to one run on three hits in 2.1 innings. Berumen pitched 5.2 innings and was charged with the other six runs. CJ Gregory notched the save with a scoreless ninth inning.
 
Cody Riley drove in four runs on three hits for the Eagles Wednesday night while teammate Jose Ruiz recorded two hits, two runs batted in, and two runs scored. Oklahoma Wesleyan outhit Belhaven 11-9 in the championship game.
 
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