Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga.-The Belhaven baseball team saw its 2012 season come to a close on Friday morning falling to Southern Polytechnic State 6-5 in the losers bracket of the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament. The Blazers end the year with an overall record of 32-24.

The morning started out rocky for Belhaven as Southern Polytechnic State University (34-22) jumped in front with three runs in the bottom of the first. Catcher Jordan Williams reached on an error followed by a walk to shortstop Devin Taut to put runners on first and second. Third baseman Jon White reached on a throwing error by catcher Kyle Wheeler on a bunt attempt that allowed Williams to score. First baseman Kendall Wehrle produced a sacrifice fly and right fielder Jeremy Boyd doubled in a run to cap the inning. All three runs charged to pitcher Brett Blaise were unearned.

Belhaven bounced back with a run in the top of the second as Wheeler launched his third home run of the season off pitcher David Gibson to start the frame and make it a 3-1 contest. Wheeler touched them all again in the sixth as he sent a two run blast over the left center fence to knot the game at 3-3. Left fielder Anthony Doss reached in front of Wheeler on an error by second baseman Josue Quinones leading to one of the two runs being unearned.

Southern Poly didn't allow an even game for long, plating a run in the home half of the sixth. Quinones redeemed his error by drawing a walk with one out and crossing the plate on an RBI single by Thaut to put the Hornets in front again 4-3. Southern Poly tacked on a run in the seventh when DH Casey Shiver doubled in Boyd extending the lead to 5-3. The Blazers final push came in the eighth when Doss doubled with one out, followed by a Wheeler walk to put runners on first and second. First baseman Ryan Saunders executed a sacrifice bunt to move Doss and courtesy runner Justin Hill into scoring position. Second baseman Jason Hicks came through with a clutch two run double to right center that chased in Doss and Hill for the equalizers.

The Hornets didn't let the top half of the eighth dampen their spirits as Thuat double to lead off the home half of the eighth. He later scored what would be the game winning run on an error by relief pitcher Robert Marzoni. The Blazers went quietly in the ninth as Southern Poly pitcher Kevin Bibler closed the door by retiring the side in order for the win.

Belhaven's offense was anchored by Wheeler who went 2 for 3 with two home runs, three RBI's and two runs scored. Hicks finished the game with two hits, including a double and two runs batted in. Shortstop Ryne Cook checked in with two hits followed by Doss with a double and two runs scored. Center fielder Tyler Wrinkle and right fielder Tom Wertz closed out the day with one hit each. Blaise started the game and went 5.1 innings, allowing four runs with only one being earned on three hits with seven walks and six strikeouts. Matthew Shaw gave up one run in 1.2 innings and Marzoni (1-2) took the loss facing three battters in the eighth resulting in the game winning run for Southern Poly.

Williams, Thaut, and Boyd led the offense for the Hornets collecting two hits apiece. Thaut and Boyd also contributed an RBI while Shiver had one hit and one run batted in. Gibson went the first 7.1 innings and was charged with four runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Bibler (4-1) earned the win logging the final 1.2 innings allowing one run on one hit.

Belhaven ended this year's SSAC tournament 0-2 after losing to Faulkner University 11-4 in the opening game on Thursday.