CLEVELAND, Ga. – Milligan University's baseball program headed south to Cleveland, Ga. on Friday afternoon to begin their three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) set against the Bears of Truett McConnell University. An offensive explosion by the Buffaloes started off their trip with a bang, as they torched the Bears, 13-2.

In the very first inning, Milligan led off with a Braxton Baird double. He later stole third and was knocked in on a RBI fielder's choice by Cade Kalehuawehe, making it 1-0. Kalehuawehe advanced to second on the play via a throwing error, putting a man at second with one out. After a groundout, Devin Gutierrez ripped a single to drive in Kalehuawehe and make it 2-0.

The Buffs would add a few more in the top of the second, as a leadoff double by Landon Lutterman and a walk to Nick Iezzi preceded Nick Moss reaching base on a fielder's choice, loading the bases. Baird then laced a two-run single into right, pushing Lutterman and Iezzi across. Baird then stole second to put runners at second and third with just one out. Kalehuawehe hit a RBI single to left, and then Brody Melton hit a sacrifice fly to right field, bringing Moss and Baird home to make it 6-0.

Truett McConnell would finally get on the board in the bottom of the third, as a sac fly made it a 6-1 Milligan lead.

Milligan got that run right back in the top of the fourth, scoring Gaven Jones, who led off the inning with a single. Kalehuawehe continued his hot start to the day, picking up another RBI on a single to left. It was a 7-1 ballgame entering the bottom of the fourth.

The Bears notched their second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, managing a run-scoring single to center to make it 7-2.

Three more runs would come in to score for the Buffaloes in the top of the sixth. Baird walked to start the frame and was knocked in on the first homer of the game by Jones. His third long ball of the season made it a 9-2 game. Later in the inning, a solo blast off the bat of Melton put the Buffs up 10-2.

The final three runs of the game were tallied by MU, as well, as Iezzi was hit by a pitch and Moss doubled to two runners in scoring position with one out. Iezzi would score on a passed ball, before Baird walked, setting up Kalehuawehe for a two-RBI double to left field. That shot put Milligan ahead 13-2, as they would end up shutting the door on TMU in the bottom half to invoke the run rule in a seven-inning win.

Five players had two or more hits in the contest for the Buffs, as Kalehuawehe (3-for-5, 2B, 5 RBI, R), Baird (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, 4 R, BB), Jones (2-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), Gutierrez (2-for-5, RBI) and Moss (2-for-4, 2B, 2 R) were responsible for those knocks. Melton (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R) and Lutterman (1-for-4, 2B, R) tallied the other two of Milligan's 13 hits.

Two arms toed the slab for the Buffaloes, with Jonah Ward putting up his second straight impressive start, this time finishing six innings of two-run ball on four hits. He tallied three strikeouts and walked just one batter en route to earning his second win of the year to move to 2-0. Justin Schnell closed things out, allowing just one hit and punching out one hitter in the seventh.

Saturday's doubleheader at Truett McConnell will give the Buffaloes (13-2, 5-2 AAC) an opportunity to earn their first series sweep of the 2026 AAC slate, as they have earned 2-1 series wins in each of their first two three-game sets. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.