Vasquez's early homer not enough in AAC opening game
Juan Vasquez gave the Buffs a two-run lead just eight pitches into the game, but Milligan College's baseball team dropped its opening matchup of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament, 10-4, to No. 16 Bryan College Wednesday evening at Hunter Wright Stadium.
Vasquez went 3-for-5 in the loss, one of seven Buffs with a hit. The home run, Vasquez's team-leading seventh of the season, scored Camron Harper following a one-out single. Milligan (20-25, 11-16 AAC) looked to be poised for the win but was shut down until the final inning of the game.
Bryan (36-13, 19-8 AAC) took the lead on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning, part of a three-run spurt, then added two more runs in the third and fourth followed by five runs in the sixth.
Starting pitcher Jeffrey Mefford suffered the loss. Will Queen (3 1/3 innings) and Andrew Smith (2 1/3 innings) saw relief efforts, Queen striking out four.
Among the seven Buffs with a hit, Vasquez, Chance Hall (2-for-4), Kirby Smith (2-for-3) and Braden Jones (2-for-4) all produced multiple hits.
Up next
Milligan plays its next game, an elimination game, Thursday at 9 a.m. The Buffs will face Truett McConnell University, which lost to Union College, 6-3, in one of Wednesday's early games. If the Buffs win Thursday, they will play Friday at 9 a.m.