JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven baseball team picked up a 4-3 victory over #14 LSU-Shreveport on Wednesday after requiring a walkoff hit in the ninth inning. With the win, the Blazers have swept the season series over the Pilots, winning each of their two meetings by one run.
 
The Blazers struck first with an RBI single from Paul Pickerrell in the third inning before Joey Harris gave Belhaven their second RBI hit a frame later. The Pilots got both runs back in the sixth, and each team plated a run over the next two innings, and the ninth inning started with a 3-3 tie.
 
Closer Zach Osha overcame a walk in the top of the ninth, setting up an opportunity for the bats to do the rest in the bottom half. Pinch hitter Dane Gecina opened the frame with a walk, and Hunter Sutton then sacrificed him into scoring position.
 
Hamilton Harper was given a free pass to first before Reagan Rutledge reached on a fielder's choice. With Gecina at third and Rutledge breaking for second, Emilio DeSilva laced a single into right field, plating Gecina to give the Blazers their eighth consecutive non-conference victory.
 
Will Cockrell's starting performance was one of his best of the year, scattering three hits over five innings of work before turning things over to the bullpen. Jacob Byrd and Jim Tom Copeland combined to finish the sixth before Tanner Moulder pitched a perfect seventh frame.
 
David Hill allowed the tying run in the eighth inning but ultimately set up a dramatic win for the Blazers. DeSilva's hit provided Osha with his second win against the Pilots and his fourth overall this season, highlighting a strong day for the Belhaven pitching staff.
 
Pilot southpaw Kevin Williams allowed two runs on seven hits over the first 6.1 innings of the game, but Brandon Russell finished on the hill. After surrendering the single to DeSilva, Russell took his third loss of the season as the only reliever for LSU-Shreveport.
 
Offensively, Alex Montero paced the Pilots with a pair of double driven in, while first baseman James Jean was the only other visiting player with a multi-hit game. Will Mullen gave Belhaven three hits from the final spot in the batting order, with DeSilva's walkoff single becoming his second hit of the evening.
 
The Blazers return to action on Friday, when they travel to Itta Bena to take on Mississippi Valley State University in an exhibition. First pitch is slated for 4:00 pm, with the Delta Devils making the trip to Jackson the following day for a doubleheader.