AAC Tournament run ends in heartbreak

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (May 4, 2024) - So close, yet so far away.

Milligan University baseball had a trip to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament championship game slip through its grasp as top-seeded Reinhardt University (Ga.) pulled out a 9-8 win in 10 innings on Saturday.

The loss puts the Buffaloes at 33-20 on the season.

Milligan battled throughout the game, rallying in the ninth to force an extra inning.

Down 6-4, the Buffaloes loaded the bases with one out when Caleb Berry walked to push a run across. Jose Paula followed with a sac fly, allowing Andrew Mathias to come home as the game-tying run.

The Buffaloes then turned up the heat in the 10th. Angel Lobo roped a two-run double to right-center field to give Milligan an 8-6 edge.

In the bottom of the 10th, Reinhardt was down to its final strike when Tucker Zdunich hit a three-run home run for the 9-8 decision.

Berry finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Cade Kalehuawehe and Mathias each went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Milligan will have to wait and see if it will receive an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The NAIA Baseball Selection Show is set for 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 9.