(RV) Buffaloes Baseball Escapes with One-Run Victory over Alice Lloyd

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Thursday afternoon on Anglin Field for the (RV) Milligan University baseball team was a peculiar one, as the Buffaloes matched up with the Alice Lloyd College Eagles in a nine-inning contest. The Buffs trailed by a run after seven-and-a-half innings but scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn an 8-7 win.

Alice Lloyd started strong with a single run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly to center field, but the Buffs responded with a two-RBI double off the bat of Cade Kalehuawehe down the right-field line to chase home Bryce Safferwich and Angel Lobo, giving Milligan a 2-1 lead after one.

The Eagles would not stand for that, as they grabbed a run on a bases-loaded walk, followed by two unearned runs on an error with the bases loaded and another on an RBI single. Milligan would get one of those back on a run-scoring groundout by Lobo to drive in Bryce Burkey in the bottom half, as ALC led 5-3.

Both sides were quiet until the bottom of the fourth, when Safferwich delivered a two-run single up the middle, bringing Andrew Beavers and Burkey in to score. That knock tied the game at 5-5 with five innings to play.

Another costly error from the Buffs with runners on base resulted in two more Eagles runs in the top of the sixth, as they took a 7-5 lead into the bottom half. Kalehuawehe hit another run-scoring double in the last half of the sixth, bringing in Gaven Jones to make it a one-run Milligan deficit with three innings remaining.

After Alice Lloyd picked up the first two outs of the bottom of the eighth without trouble, a hit-by-pitch for Safferwich, followed by a double by Kalehuawehe; put two on with two out. A wild pitch brought home the tying run in the form of Safferwich, while Tank Hansen delivered a huge RBI single back up the middle to drive in Chandler Justice, giving Milligan an 8-7 advantage.

The Eagles were retired in order in the top of the ninth, as Milligan escaped with an 8-7 triumph.

Kalehuawehe was responsible for half of the team's hits in the game, with a trio of doubles and three RBIs. He has now upped his season batting line to 11-for-22 (.500) with a homer and seven runs driven in. Safferwich (1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB, HBP) was another important contributor for the offense, while Hansen (1-for-2, RBI) and Reagan Smith (1-for-3, BB) had the two remaining hits.

Milligan's pitching staff only allowed one earned run on the afternoon, as Brady Thomas tossed 1.2 innings of five-run (one earned) ball with three hits allowed and four walks surrendered. Cord Babcock hurled 3.2 innings and allowed five hits, while striking out five and allowing two unearned runs. Finally, Drew Hoover earned the win after throwing 3.2 innings and allowing only one hit with a trio of punchouts to his name. It was his second win of the year in his second appearance.

Milligan moves to 7-2 after the frightening win at home. They will return to the diamond tomorrow to face the Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders, with the first pitch of the doubleheader set for 1:30 p.m. at Anglin Field.