SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia and South Africa went back-and-forth in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier championship, but it was Australia that came away with a 12-5 victory. With the win at Blacktown International Sportspark, Australia will play in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. 

"I knew from the start that this wasn't going to be an easy competition," said Australian manager Jon Deeble, whose team trailed twice on Sunday. "People said it would be a walk in the park, and I said, 'This is going to be tough.' They proved that. 12-5, they sort of lacked a bit of depth in their bullpen, but a couple more arms in the bullpen and it might be a one-run game."

On the first at-bat of the game, South Africa shortstop Gift Ngoepe launched a home run to left field off Travis Blackley to give his squad an early 1-0 lead over Australia. With Kyle Gaddin pitching, South Africa gave up a run in the bottom of the first as Trent Oeltjen doubled to right and scored Mitch Dening to tie the game. 

Brad Harman and Allan de San Miguel went back-to-back in the bottom of the fifth inning, which gave Australia a 3-1 lead over South Africa. Harman's solo home run went to left field and Miguel's home run was driven to left center field. Both home runs were hit off of Carl Michaels, who relieved Kyle Gaddin of his duties. 

Just as Australia was stealing all the momentum, South Africa got it back and took a 4-3 edge in the top of the sixth inning. Kyle Botha unleashed on a three-run homer, scoring Anthony Phillips and Jonathan Phillips, who are brothers on the team of South Africa. Botha finished the game 1-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. 

Australia tied the game at four in the bottom of the sixth inning. Trent D'Antonio scored Oeltjen on an RBI double to center field with one out. Australia went on to moves runners to second and third, but Miguel grounded out to third baseman Jonathan Phillips to end the inning. 

Dening, in the bottom of the seventh inning, ripped an RBI single to right field through the gap between first base and second base off Callan Pearce. The run gave Australia a one run lead over South Africa. Oeltjen followed Dening's hit with an RBI single of his own to score Dening and give Australia a 6-4 lead over South Africa. 

The loss was handed to Pearce, who gave up two runs on four hits across 1.2 innings of work. It was not a pretty game for the South Africa pitchers, as six-of-seven slingers gave up at least one run, with Michaels giving up a team-high three runs. 

Blackley went 5.2 innings for Australia, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks, while registering four strikeouts. It was Peter Moylan, however, who picked up the victory by pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball.

The lead for Australia was cut to one run as Brett Willemburg hit an RBI ground out to the shortstop and Anthony Phillips scored on the play. Australia got out of the jam with a strikeout by Ryan Searle for the third out. 

Miguel laid down a bunt, but South Africa third baseman Jonathan Phillips over threw the first baseman, which allowed D'Antonio and Harman to find the plate, giving Australia an 8-5 lead in the eighth inning. Dean Jacobs was then replaced by Russell Olivier. Miguel scored on a sacrifice fly by Logan Wade to increase the edge of Australia to four runs. Mitch Nilsson drew an RBI walk and D'Anthonio picked up single that scored David Sutherland and Oeltjen to give Australia a 12-5 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

Oeltjen finished 3-for-4 with one walk, one run scored and two RBI. Harman and Miguel scored two runs and Dening crossed the plate three times with an RBI to his name. 

"The pitching started to get tired, and then once we got beyond the guys we were comfortable with, we had to go to some rookies who have not been exposed to this level of baseball," said South Africa manager Alan Phillips."It is difficult to play this level if you are not exposed to this level on a regular basis, and make no bones about it, that is a pretty professional staff over there. They have quality pitchers and their position players are outstanding. Australia has a habit of producing pretty decent sportsmen all around." 

Searle came out for the ninth inning and slammed the door to send Australia to the 2017 World Baseball Classic, which is in March 2017. It was the second save of the qualifier for Searle. 

"It is amazing to be in another World Baseball Classic. We did what we came here to do and we will be in it next year, so it is very exciting," Oeltjen said. "I think I'm back, I think I have to keep on going. I'm having a blast, and this is a great team, and I want to be a part of it."

The qualifier in Sydney, Australia is just the first qualifier of four total. The others will be held in Mexicali, Mexico, from March 17-20 (with Mexico, Czech Republic, Germany and Nicaragua competing), in Panama City from March 17-20 (Colombia, France, Panama and Spain) and in Brooklyn, New York, from Sept. 22-25 (Brazil, Great Britain, Israel and Pakistan).