Barbourville, Ky. (April 14, 2013) --- The Milligan College baseball team scored three runs in the final inning, but it wasn't enough as they fell 17-16 to Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Union College on Sunday afternoon in Barbourville, Ky.
 
   After Union jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, Brandon Malone (Maryville, Tenn.) hit a solo home run to answer for the Buffaloes. Brett Mercurio (West Palm Beach, Fla.) scored off a Corey McPherson (Johnson City, Tenn.) hit, and Sam Tarlton (Chuckey, Tenn.) and McPherson scored off a pair of singles to give the Buffaloes a 4-3 lead. Malone hit his second home run of the day with a two-run homerun over the left field fence to give Milligan a 6-3 lead heading into the fourth.
 
   The Bulldogs battled back as they scored six combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings to tie that game at 9-9 entering the seventh inning. Luke Kirk (Gate City, Va.), Tyree Jeffries (Jackson, Tenn.) and Blake Buck (Maryville, Tenn.) crossed home plate in the seventh inning to give the Buffaloes a 12-9 lead, and Buck scored off a Mercurio double in the top of the eighth inning.
 
   However, Union answered with eight runs in the home side of the eighth inning to take a 17-13 advantage into the final inning. The Buffaloes scored three runs on two doubles from Malone and Buck. However, Milligan was unable to drive another run across home plate to tie the game.
 
   Malone led the way at the plate as he went 4-for-5 with seven RBIs. Buck was 4-for-6, while Nathan Millsap (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Jeffries had two RBIs apiece. On the mound, Jake Watts (Boone, N.C.) received a no-decision in four innings of work as he allowed eight runs on nine hits. Jake Howell (Johnson City, Tenn.) was handed the loss.
 
   The Buffaloes fall to 20-21 overall and 7-11 in conference play.
 
   Milligan will return to action on Wednesday, April 17, as they host nonconference foe Bluefield College. First pitch is set for 7 p.m., at Anglin Field.