Comeback victory delivers baseball to series win over Montreat

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 11, 2023) – The Milligan University baseball team secured an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series victory over Montreat as the Buffs split with the Cavaliers in a doubleheader at Anglin Field on Saturday. Montreat tied the series 1-1 with a 6-2 win in game one and the Buffs earned a dramatic 5-4 comeback win in game two.

Milligan moves to 13-10 on the year and 4-8 in AAC play. Montreat is now 12-13, 7-5 AAC.

Game 1 – Montreat 6, Milligan 2

The Cavaliers used a six-run fourth inning to take game one. Montreat used six hits, including a two-run homer, a walk and hit batsman to take a 6-0 lead.

Outside of the inning, Milligan pitchers Austin Maxey and Creed Werker held the Cavs off the scoreboard and stranded nine Montreat baserunners.

Milligan scored a run in the fifth with Jack Sutton scoring on a groundout. Caleb Berry hit a solo home run in the sixth to bring the score to its final margin, 6-2.

Angel Lobo and Casey Haire had two hits each in the defeat.

Game 2 – Milligan 5, Montreat 4

In the rubber match of the series, a seven-inning game, Montreat scored in the first, third and fifth innings to build a 4-0 lead.

Berry walked with one out in the bottom of the sixth, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch from second base. After a Braden Spano walk, Anthony Guzman blasted a two-run home run to bring the margin to 4-3.

Montreat loaded the bases in the seventh but Chance Hall struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning and preserve the one-run deficit.

Milligan recorded back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the seventh. After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt, Berry was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Haire was then hit by a pitch to bring home Andrew Mathias.

A wild pitch allowed pinch runner Kobe Miles to scamper home for the game's winning run.

Guzman's home run was one of three hits in the game for the Buffs.

Vince LaConte started and tossed five innings, allowing four earned runs. Chance Hall earned the win out of the bullpen as he kept the Cavs off the scoreboard in the final two innings.

Milligan travels to Cumberland on Tuesday for a nonconference midweek matchup.