Baseball splits at (RV) Bryan

DAYTON, Tenn. (February 29, 2024) – The Milligan University baseball team split an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader at (RV) Bryan on Thursday evening. The Buffs were edged 5-4 in the ninth inning of game one and slugged to a 12-4 victory in game two.

Milligan moves to 14-4 on the season and 4-1 in conference play. Bryan stands at 11-7, 4-3 AAC.

Game 1 – Bryan 5, Milligan 4

The Buffs took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a run scoring on a double steal and throwing error and Braden Spano's RBI single. Bryan tied the game at two in the bottom of the third but Milligan started Andrei Beal left the bases loaded with back-to-back punchouts.

The Lions took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth with a two-out RBI single. Jose Paula launched a go-ahead two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

Bryan loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth. T.J. Kuhn and recorded a strikeout and Creed Werker closed the inning with a flyout.

Milligan had runners on the corners with one out in the top of the ninth but a double play ended the threat.

Two walks and a pair of wild pitches put runners on first and third with nobody out for Bryan in the bottom of the ninth. The Lions notched back-to-back RBI singles to walk off with a 4-5 victory.

Paula went 2-3 with two walks, a home run, two runs and two RBI.

Game 2 – Milligan 12, Bryan 4 (7 innings)

The Buffs built an early 6-0 lead in game two as Spano and Cade Kalehuawehe both swatted two-run home runs in the opening three innings and Milligan added two more runs on wild pitches and passed balls.

Bryan struck back with a three-run third inning to make the score 6-3. The Buffs added another run on the basepaths with a stolen base leading to a run scored on a throwing error and a sacrifice fly in the fourth to lead 8-3. Bryan scratched across a run in the fourth to cut the deficit to four runs.

Andrew Mathias jumpstarted a four-run seventh inning with a solo home run. Milligan also scored on an error, a Vasili Kaloudis single and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Angel Lobo.

Kalehuawehe went 3-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Mathias and Spano also homered. Caleb Berry reached base five times with two hits and three walks and scored three times. Paula crossed home three times.

Anfernee Fernandez picked up the win after allowing four earned runs in six innings and striking out seven. Jacob Bishop worked a scoreless seventh.

The Buffs and Lions conclude their series at Bryan on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.