May 13, 2011 (Oklahoma City, OK) -The Belhaven baseball team defeated Fresno Pacific University 10-9 in 10 innings Thursday afternoon in game one of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round in Oklahoma City. The Blazers, ranked 20th in the final NAIA Top 25 Poll, rallied with nine runs in the final four innings to pull out the win. Belhaven is now 44-16 which ties a school record for most wins in a season.
The Blazers ended up plating the game winning run on an infield single by Jimmy Gilford in the top of the 10th and relief pitcher Sean Kelly held off the Firebirds to close out the game and get the win. Fresno Pacific made things interest again in the 10th putting the tying run at second with two outs. Kelly eventually got Laird to fly out to right to seal the win for Belhaven.
Belhaven will be back in action Friday afternoon at 2:30 against Oklahoma City University in round two of the tournament. The Stars knocked off Doane College 10-5 on Thursday night to setup Friday's contest with the Blazers. Fans can follow all the play-by-play action through live audio courtesy of Stretch Internet.