Competition at the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Championships wrapped up on Sunday night in Miramar, Fla., with two Trojans taking individual victories.  As a team, the men finished in seventh place with 77 points while the women took ninth with 37 points... Read More

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.

The Southern States Athletic Conference held its postseason baseball awards banquet Monday evening to kick off its 2013 SSAC Tournament and 10 Auburn Montgomery student-athletes were honored by the league for their accomplishments this season.

Senior Chad Mansmann was named a first-team all-conference selection, while junior Blake Bearden earned second-team honors. Freshman Brandon Pooler was selected to the league’s All-Freshman team. Mansmann was chosen AUM’s Musco Lighting Champions of Character recipient.

In addition, the Warhawks matched a league-high with seven players named to the All-Academic team. Seniors Eran Franks, Will Ruffin and Branden Kelley, juniors Hayden Hillyer and Josh Thompson, sophomore Bryan Young and redshirt freshman Shelby Nobles were each recognized for their academic success. To qualify, individuals must have a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and have completed at least 24 semester hours of college level work.