Baseball opens AAC Tournament with a victory

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Fourth-seeded Milligan University baseball used a fast start to fuel a 10-3 victory over No. 5 seed Bryan College in its opening game of the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Baseball Tournament on Wednesday.

With the win, the Buffs remain in the winners' bracket and will take on the winner of the game between No. 1 seed Reinhardt University and No. 9 seed Bluefield University on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The tournament is being held at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport, Tenn.

Milligan wasted little time in seizing control of the game, scoring two runs in the first inning. Braden Spano singled in the game's first run, and Caleb Berry later scored thanks to a Lion error for a 2-0 advantage.

The good times continued to roll in the second with a five-run rally. Angel Lobo got the outburst started with a two-run home run, upping the margin to 7-0.

Gaven Jones made it an 8-0 lead in the fourth with a solo home run.

Bryan scored twice in the sixth to pull within 8-2, but Spano and Lobo each collected another RBI in the seventh to make it a 10-2 contest. The Lions tried to mount a comeback in the ninth but were only able to scratch out one additional run, making the final 10-3.

Lobo finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored, while Spano and Jones each had two RBI. Berry went 3-for-5 with a double two runs scored.

Ian Weil picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on three hits and four walks in six innings of walk. Vincente Mendoza pitched the final three innings to secure the save.

Milligan now sits at 31-18 overall.