No. 23 Reinhardt gets the better of Baseball in AAC series

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 9, 2024) - The Milligan baseball team got the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series off to a good start; however, No. 23 Reinhardt came back to sweep the doubleheader on Friday to win the series 2-1.

Following the series, the Buffaloes are 16-6 overall and 6-3 in conference play.

Milligan returns to action on Tuesday when it visits Cumberland University (Tenn.). First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Milligan will host Pikeville in AAC play on Friday and Saturday.

Game 1 - Milligan 7, Reinhardt 6

Milligan rallied in the bottom of the ninth to pull out the one-run victory in the series opener on Thursday.

Down 6-5, Caleb Berry led off the bottom of the ninth with a triple. Two batters later, Braden Spano singled to center to drive home pinch-runner Roangeraud Fraai to tie the game. Later in the inning, Milligan had two on with two out when Vasili Kaloudis doubled to score the game-winning run.

Berry and Molinari each finished 3-for-5 with an RBI to lead the Buffalo attack.

Vincent Mendoza earned the win, pitching the final 3 2/3 innings, allowing no hits, no runs, and one walk as he struck out four.

In all, the Buffalo staff fanned 14 batters in the game as starter Andrei Beal collected 10 strikeouts in 4 innings of work.

Game 2 - Reinahrdt 16, Milligan 8

Reinhardt pounced early, scoring four runs in the second and five in the third on its way to the win.

Milligan attempted to mount a comeback in the ninth as it tallied five runs. Angel Lobo blasted a three-run home run during the outburst. Yet, it was not enough as Reinhardt evened the series at a game apiece.

Lobo finished 4-for-4 with five RBI. Jose Paula went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored.

Game 3 - Reinhardt 8, Milligan 4

The Buffs appeared to be on their win to a win in the rubber game, holding a 4-2 lead going into the sixth. Reinhardt, though, rallied for six runs in the sixth to grab the lead and never looked back.

Milligan grabbed a 4-1 lead in the second when Andrew Mathias belted a grand slam. Reinhardt pushed a run across in the third to cut Milligan's lead to 4-2 before rallying for the win late.