Box Score
COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Belhaven baseball team had a disappointing start to the 2013 Southern States Athletic Conference tournament Tuesday afternoon, falling 3-2 to Southern Polytechnic State University at Golden Park. The Blazers had one last shot to tie or win the game in the bottom of the ninth, but failed to score after loading the bases with one out.

Belhaven (36-20) took an early lead by scoring with two outs in the bottom of the second inning. Catcher Kyle Wheeler led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Reagan Rutledge, and then with two outs scored on an RBI single by DH Daniel Gilbert to make it a 1-0 contest.

After being shutout in the first two innings by Blazers pitcher Jonathan Thompson, Southern Polytechnic State (38-17) took advantage of a leadoff walk by reliever Jared Miller in the third and turned it into a run. Centerfielder Chris Dykes drew the free pass and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Blake Barber, tying the game 1-1.

Neither side scored in the fourth or fifth, but the Hornets would grab the lead with two runs in the top of the sixth. Andrew Gunn walked Barber to start the inning and then first baseman Tyler Roach doubled down the left field line to plate Barber from first. Roach moved to third on a ground ball and scored on a grounder to first by DH Reggie Weatherford. Weatherford's ball was misplayed by Britt, but it didn't affect the run total.

Trailing 3-1 going into the home half of the seventh, Belhaven got a run closer with another clutch two out hit. Gilbert reached with one out on a single and then with two away, second baseman Ryne Cook chased him home with a single through the left side of the infield.

The Blazers pitching staff and defense held back the Hornets into the ninth, giving the bats one more crack with a one run deficit. Gilbert nearly earned his third hit of the day if not for a great play by Southern Poly right fielder Khirus Ware. Ware made a diving catch down the line and it would later prove to be the game saving play for the Hornets.

Pinch hitter Hamilton Harper followed Gilbert with a single to left center, knocking reliever Kevin  Bibler out of the ballgame. Bibler had been on since the sixth after starter Darin Wiltgen pitched the first five frames. Nick Blount was summoned from the bullpen this time and uncharacteristically struggled with his control. Blount issued back to back walks to left fielder Dominick Francia and Cook, with a wild pitch mixed in, to load the bases with one out. Blount had walked only seven hitters all year coming into the tournament.

However, Blount got dialed in and struck out third baseman Jason Hicks on a 2-2 pitch followed by a fly out to center by Britt to end the game. The combination of Blount's pitching and the diving catch in right by Ware preserved the 3-2 win for Southern Poly.

Gunn suffered the loss for Belhaven, allowing two runs on one hit and a walk in the sixth inning. The loss drops Gunn's record to 6-2 on the season.

Wheeler led the Blazers with three hits followed by Gilbert and Cook with two hits and an RBI apiece. Hicks and Harper rounded out the game with one hit each. As a team, Belhaven out hit the Hornets 9-6, but the only one that went for extra bases was a double by Cook. The Blazers were just 2 for 18 with runners on base in Tuesday's game and left 11 stranded.

Wiltgen took home the win for Southern Poly to go to 7-5 in 2013, allowing one run on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Third baseman Chad Livingston and second baseman Dalton Martinez both went 2 for 4 followed by Roach with one hit and an RBI.

The Blazers will play their second pool play game on Wednesday when they take on Auburn-Montgomery at 2:30 PM CDT at Golden Park.