Baseball advances to NAIA Opening Round finale, falls in title game

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (May 15, 2024) - Milligan University baseball's magical postseason came to an end in the NAIA Opening Round - Hattiesburg Bracket championship round, falling to host William Carey University (Miss.) 11-4 on Wednesday.

Milligan battled its way to the championship game with an amazing come-from-behind win over Mid-America Christian University (Okla.) earlier in the day.

The Buffaloes finish the season 35-22 overall.

MILLIGAN 8, MID-AMERICA CHRISTIAN 7

Milligan appeared to be in control of the game as it led 6-2 after five innings. Cade Kalehuawehe provided a two-run home run as part of a three-run second, and the Buffs added a run in each of the third, fourth, and fifth innings for the four-run advantage.

However, Mid-America Christian rallied for four runs in the sixth and took a 7-6 lead in the seventh.

In the ninth, Jose Paula homered to tie the game, and Vasili Kaloudis called 'game' with a solo homer to left to give Milligan the 8-7 win.

Milligan belted four home runs in the game. Braden Spano hit a solo shot in the fifth.

WILLIAM CAREY 11, MILLIGAN 4

For much of the game, Milligan stood toe-to-toe with William Carey. Yet, a late run sent the Crusaders ahead for good as they won the NAIA Opening Round to advance to the NAIA World Series.

Kaloudis lofted a sac fly to drive in the Buffs' first run of the game in the fourth, and he added a solo home run in the sixth to tie the game at 2-all. However, William Carey scored in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead before rallying for eight runs in the seventh for an 11-2 advantage.

Ryan Molinari and Angel Lobo each added run-scoring hits in the eighth to cut the margin to 11-4, but that was as close as Milligan could get as William Carey held on for the win.

Molinari finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, one run, and one RBI.