Mars Hill, N.C. (March 14, 2013) --- The Milligan College baseball team was unable to rally in the ninth inning as they fell 10-8 in nonconference action to Mars Hill College on Thursday afternoon in Mars Hill, N.C.
 
   Milligan scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning after Brandon Malone (Maryville, Tenn.) hit a solo homerun to center field. The Lions answered scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning, and Mars Hill added two runs in the third frame to take an early 6-1 lead.
 
   Malone hit his second homerun of the day in the fourth inning to cut the Lions' lead to 6-3 as his homerun to left field drove in Sam Tarlton (Chuckey, Tenn.), who started the inning off with a single to center field. The Buffaloes continued to cut into the game as Corey McPherson (Johnson City, Tenn.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the fifth inning to drive in Blake Buck (Maryville, Tenn.) and bring Milligan within two runs of the Lions.
 
   Mars Hill answered as they scored four runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning on three hits. The Buffaloes posted three runs in the sixth inning on four hits as Tyree Jeffries (Jackson, Tenn.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Brett Mercurio (West Palm Beach, Fla.) to start the inning. Nathan Millsap (Kingsport, Tenn.) then singled through the right side to drive in Buck and Malone to make the score 10-7. The Buffaloes continued to fight as Jeffries singled to center to drive in Malone in the top of the eighth to close the gap to two runs. However, the Buffaloes were unable to score in the ninth to continue the rally.
 
   Malone led the way at the plate as he went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, while Buck was 2-for-4. Jefferies ended the game 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
 
   Corey Jenkins (Jonesborough, Tenn.) was handed the loss in two innings of work. Jenkins allowed three runs on four hits.
 
   With the loss, Milligan falls to 10-11 on the season.
 
   The Buffaloes return to action on Friday, March 15, as they host Point University for a weekend Appalachian Athletic Conference series. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m.