MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The (RV) Milligan University baseball squad closed out a three-game series with a doubleheader at home Saturday afternoon against the Bryan College Lions. With a win in last night's contest, Milligan came into the afternoon looking to complete the series sweep. They did just that, as a big fifth inning led to an 11-6 victory in game one, and a masterful pitching performance powered a 5-1 win in game two to complete the 3-0 series sweep.

Game one saw both sides start with leadoff hits through the right side of the infield. However, the difference came down to defensive execution. Milligan's defense avoided any damage, ending the inning by catching the leadoff runner attempting to steal third. Bryan's defense, on the other hand, allowed the Buffs' leadoff hit to turn into a run after defensive miscues. Braxton Baird started the game with a single and advanced to third on a throwing error following a ground ball. Cade Kalehuawehe then brought him in with a sacrifice fly. The Buffs added a second run in the inning on a Gaven Jones stolen base and a Brody Melton single to score Jones from second, giving Milligan a 2-0 lead after one inning.

Bryan threatened to get those runs back in the second, after a leadoff walk followed by a base hit and sacrifice bunt put runners in scoring position with one out. Following that sequence, a second walk of the inning loaded the bases. However, Jonah Ward got himself out of the bases-loaded jam with back-to-back strikeouts to end the top half of the inning.

After two scoreless innings, the Lions seized momentum in the fourth. Bryan started the inning by putting a runner on second following an error on a groundball. An error on a bunt attempt put two runners on, and a double scored a run while putting two runners in scoring position at second and third, all without recording an out. Milligan went to the bullpen, and a line drive was caught for a double play to temporarily halt the momentum. However, a sharply hit ground ball with two outs scored the runner from third, giving the Lions a 3-2 advantage.

In the bottom half of the fourth, Milligan manufactured a run to tie the score at three. Game one hero, Landon Lutterman, led off the inning with a single. A sacrifice bunt and a groundout then advanced Lutterman to third. With two outs, Wyatt Heidle provided a clutch double down the left-field line to score Lutterman from third.

Defensive miscues haunted the Buffs again in the fifth inning, as an error with two outs plated a run for the Lions. A single followed by a one-out double put runners in scoring position. A quick second out was recorded before an error on a groundball scored the run from third, giving Bryan a 4-3 lead.

Milligan got the bats going in the bottom half of the fifth, as five hits produced four runs, giving the Buffs a 7-4 advantage. Braxton Baird started the rally with a leadoff double, and a fielder's choice where Kalehuawehe reached base put runners at the corners. Four consecutive hits from Melton, Lutterman, Devin Gutierrez and Nick Iezzi then plated three runs, putting MU ahead 7-4.

The Lions looked to regain the lead in the seventh, scoring two runs while forcing the Buffs deep into their bullpen. A single followed by a double brought in the first new arm for Milligan. Back-to-back walks then loaded the bases and brought in a run for Bryan. With two outs, Milligan turned to freshman Aidan Yuhas from the bullpen. He came in and immediately got ahead in the count, but the Lions hit a hard line drive. However, Iezzi saved multiple potential runs with a highlight diving catch in center to end the inning, holding the one-run lead for Milligan at 7-6.

Milligan loaded the bases before recording an out in the eighth inning, ultimately setting up Baird for a grand slam to add four insurance runs, extending the Buff advantage to 11-6 heading into the bottom of the eight.

Despite a leadoff single, Milligan was able to get out of the ninth inning without allowing a run to capture an 11-6 victory in game one and clinch the series with a 2-0 lead.

Game two started with two scoreless innings, until Milligan broke the scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom half of the third. Baird was hit by a pitch on the back to put a runner on first, and Jones followed with a base hit. On a tailor-made double play ball, an error by Bryan's third baseman loaded the bases with one out. Melton delivered a double off the wall to drive in two runs while putting runners at second and third. However, the damage was limited to only the two runs, as a groundout and flyout ended the inning.

In the fifth inning, Bryan pushed a run across to cut the deficit to 2-1. The Lions started the inning with a double, and the runner advanced to third on a flyout. The run came across on a groundout.

The Buffs got that run back in the bottom of the fifth, capitalizing on defensive mishaps from the Lions. Melton drew a walk with two outs and advanced to third on an error after a Lutterman base hit. Melton then scored on a wild pitch, extending the Buff lead back to two runs at 3-1.

Milligan added two runs in the sixth inning behind a Nick Moss RBI single, and he later came around to score on a sacrifice fly. A shutdown inning in the seventh and final inning from MU completed the series sweep with a 5-1 victory.

A grand total of 20 hits were tallied by the Buffaloes' offense across 14 offensive innings, as Lutterman (4-for-7, 2 RBI, 2 R) led the team with four hits. Baird (3-for-6, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 4 R), Iezzi (3-for-6, 2B, 2 R), Moss (3-for-7, RBI, 2 R) and Heidle (3-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI) each tallied three hits on the afternoon. Melton had two hits in six at-bats with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Jones had one hit in eight at-bats and scored two runs, while Gutierrez had one hit in six at-bats and drove in a run.

Jonah Ward started game one on the hill for the Buffaloes, tossing three innings and allowing three runs (one earned) on three walks and three strikeouts. Sai Vickers earned the win to move to 2-1 for the season, pitching 3.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) with one walk and one strikeout. Kaleb Meredith and Yuhas each pitched 0.1 innings in relief, while Cole Wessel earned his first save of the season with two shutout innings and two strikeouts.

Jack McLaury had a dominant complete-game performance as the starter in game two, as the junior allowed one run on five hits with zero walks. He struck out three Bryan batters during his seven innings of work to earn the win and move to 5-2 for the season.

Next up for Milligan (25-6, 14-4 AAC) will be a trip to Lebanon, Tenn. for a mid-week matchup with Cumberland (Tenn.) University. This will give the Buffs a one-game break from AAC play, where they currently sit in third place in the conference standings behind Johnson (12-2) and Tennessee Wesleyan (11-3). The game with Cumberland is set to start at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24.