The road to the 2012 SIAC baseball championship title ended Saturday for Albany State University. The Golden Rams finished third in the conference after losing 11-1 to Paine College in the semifinal game during the SIAC Baseball Championship Tournament, held at Eagle Memorial Stadium in Ozark, Ala.. The Rams end the season at 20-23.

Joshua Heinrich, who got the loss for the Rams, pitched 5 2/3 inning and allowed six walks, seven hit and five runs. Ken Nesbitt pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief and gave up four walks, four hits and five runs. Jared Arrington came in and allowed two hits and a run.

Allen Hardy, Kareem Hayes and Ryan Latner each recorded a hit for the Golden Rams with Hardy posting the team's only RBI. Hardy drove Eddie Mathis in to score the Rams' only run in the first inning.

The Lions answered in the bottom half when Jonathan Richey scored on a sacrifice bunt. The Paine bats kept swinging and the Lions scored two runs in the third inning, one run each in the fourth and sixth innings, four in the seventh and two in the eighth inning. Richey led Paine with three hits and four RBI and Darryl Wilson recorded two hits and two RBI. Chris Hallet pitched a complete game for the Lions with five strikeouts, giving up just three hits and one run.

With the win, Paine advanced to the championship game to face the Stillman College Tigers. Stillman defeated Paine 7-2 to win their second consecutive SIAC title. Stillman will represent the SIAC in the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament in May.
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2012 SIAC Baseball Championship Results

Thursday, April 26
Game 1 - Claflin 17, Tuskegee 7  
Game 2 - Albany State 10, Miles 9
Game 3 - Stillman 3, Benedict 2 
Game 4 - Kentucky State 9, Paine 7

Friday, April 27
Game 5 - 9:00 am - Miles 9, Tuskegee 8
Game 6 - 12:00 pm - Paine 15, Benedict 5
Game 7 - 3:00 pm - Albany State 9, Claflin 2
Game 8 - 6:00 pm - Stillman 9, Kentucky State 3
 
Saturday, April 28
Game 9 - 9:00 am - Miles 10, Kentucky State 2
Game 10 - 12:00 pm - Paine 7, Claflin 5
Game 11 - 3:00 pm - Stillman 14, Albany State 3
Game 12 - 6:00 pm - Paine 5, Miles 3
 
Sunday, April 29
Game 13 - 10:00 am - Paine 11, Albany State 1
Game 14 - 1:00 pm - Stillman 7, Paine 2