Senior Will Ruffin scattered just five hits in eight strong innings of work, but a one-out single by Reagan Rutledge in the bottom of the seventh plated the eventual game-winning run, as Auburn Montgomery fell 2-1 to Belhaven in game two of pool play at the Southern States Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament on Wednesday.
The Warhawks (32-23-1) will conclude pool play on Friday, when they challenge Southern Poly at 11 a.m. AUM fell in its opening pool-play game to Faulkner on Tuesday.
Ruffin kept the Blazers (37-20) off balance for much of the game, allowing just back-to-back singles in the first inning before three consecutive hits in the seventh. He struck out one and issued one walk in the tough-luck loss.
“I think this was the best game Will has thrown for us,” head coach Q.V. Lowe said. “He gave us everything he had, but we just weren’t able to get key hits for him. We had some opportunities, but in a close ball game, you have to capitalize.
