Baseball defeated in AAC doubleheader at Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (February 24, 2023) – The Milligan University baseball dropped an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader at Bryan on Friday afternoon.

The Buffs were defeated 13-2 in the opening game and fell 5-4 in the scheduled seven inning contest. Milligan's record falls to 10-6, 2-4 AAC while Bryan's rises 11-3, 5-1 AAC.

Game 1 – Bryan 13, Milligan 2 (7 innings)

The Lions jumped out to a 12-1 lead over the first two innings of Friday's opener. The Buffs loaded the bases in the top of the second but were only able to manage a single run with Ryan Molinari walking with the bases loaded.

Bryan held a 13-1 lead into the sixth inning. Milligan added a second run when Anthony Guzman smacked a solo home run. The Buffs could not plate another run as Bryan earned a seven-inning run-rule victory in what was scheduled to be a nine-inning contest.

Guzman went 3-3, scored both of the Buffs' runs and hit his second home run of the series and fourth longball of the season.

Vince LaConte allowed one run in 4.1 innings out of the Buffs bullpen with six strikeouts.

Game 2 – Bryan 5, Milligan 4

A Milligan error in the first inning extended the home half and Bryan made the Buffs pay with a four unearned runs, including a three-run homer to lead 5-0 after the first.

Caleb Berry doubled and scored on a fielder's choice in the second to make it a 5-1 ballgame. In the fourth, Angel Lobo blasted a three-run homer to score himself, Andrew Mathias and Brandon Marello and narrow the margin to 5-4.

The Buffs threatened to tie the game in the top of the fourth with consecutive one-out walks but a 6-4-3 double play ended the half inning. Guzman walked and stole second in the fifth but was stranded.

Down one run in the seventh, Casey Haire and Marello singled to open the inning. The Buffs had runners on second and third with one out but a strikeout, intentional walk and groundout ended the game.

After giving up five runs, four unearned, in the first inning Marello held the Loins off the scoreboard and allowed just three hits the rest of the game.

Marello and Berry had multi-hit games. Lobo drove in three of the Buffs' four runs with his home run.

Milligan hosts No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan for a three-game AAC series next weekend.