MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Friday, the (RV) Milligan University baseball program hosted Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Union Commonwealth University Bulldogs for a doubleheader at Anglin Field. The two games capped off a three-game series, with the Buffs coming into the afternoon with a one-game lead. Milligan was able to win the series by splitting the pair of contests. After a frustrating loss in game one where the MU bats simply could not get going, they bounced back and scored 11 runs to win the latter tilt.

Coming off a night where the Buffs scored a program record tying 24 runs, they found themselves in a pitching duel for the majority of the first game. Jack McLaury only allowed one hit through six innings for Milligan, while Ethan Warren was dealing as well for the Bulldogs only allowing three hits through the same six inning time frame.

In innings one through five, Milligan had only two hits, one was courtesy of Reagan Smith who recorded his first hit of the 2026 campaign. Luis Quintero hit a deep fly ball that was hauled in on the warning track in the bottom of the fifth inning that was the hardest hit ball during that time.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Buffs had their most threatening offensive sequence when Gaven Jones led off with a triple. However, the next batter hit a hot shot right at the third baseman who was playing in on the grass and Jones was gunned down at home.

The scoreless tie was eventually broken in the top of the seventh inning by Union Commonwealth, as back-to-back walks put the first two on board to begin the inning. With runners on first and second, an errant pickoff attempt allowed the runners to advance into scoring position at second and third. The defensive miscue proved to be costly, as the next batter singled to right center, scoring both runners.

In the next inning, Union Commonwealth added three insurance runs on one swing of the bat. A single was followed by a walk setting up the Bulldogs for a three-run homer to left field, putting them ahead 5-0 after seven and a half innings.

Neither side scored again in the contest and the Bulldogs struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth inning to give them a 5-0 victory, tying the series at one game apiece going into game three.

After the disappointing loss in game one, the Buffs bats woke up early in the late afternoon. In the first inning Milligan scored their first three runs of the day, when Jones and Cade Kalehuawehe had base hits to start the inning and a wild pitch moved them up 90 feet. Then Landon Lutterman laced a two-RBI double, Nick Iezzi followed with a single to bring Lutterman giving MU a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

The Buffs tacked on another run in the third inning when Miller Spence came on as courtesy runner for Kalehuawehe who reached base on an error. Spence came around to score after he reached second on a passed ball, and a Brody Melton deep fly out moved him to third. Then from third, he scored on a wild pitch.

Milligan put the game firmly in their grasp with a five-run fourth inning that left little doubt about the outcome with only three innings remaining. Reagan Smith led off with a walk and Moss drove him in with a two-run shot down the left field line. Jones reached on a hit by pitch and made history by stealing both second and third base to set the program record for career stolen bases. Kalehuawehe singled to left to bring him home. Spence came on as a pinch runner for Kalehuawehe, and after Melton drew a walk and a wild pitch moved both runners up, Lutterman walked to load the bases. Iezzi then singled to center, scoring two more and capping the five-run frame at 9-0.

The Bulldogs were able to push a run across in the sixth inning on a solo home run, but a two-run bottom half of the inning gave the Buffs a double-digit lead at 11-1. Command issues began to plague the UCU pitching staff, as four walks in the bottom aided the run scoring for MU. Josh Lail drove in a run following two walks with a sacrifice fly, and the next was scored after Cole Putnal walked with the bases loaded.

Down to their last three outs in the top of the seventh inning, Canyon Geren was able to complete his complete game, retiring the first three batters with two strikeouts to give Milligan an 11-1 victory and 2-1 win in the three-game series.

Kalehuawehe led the team offensively on the afternoon, going 3-for-8 with an RBI across the two contests. Lutterman (2-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB) and Iezzi (2-for-2, 3 RBI, 2 BB) were both productive in game two, each reaching base multiple times and driving in multiple runs. Moss (2-for-6, HR, 2 RBI, R) and Smith (2-for-5, R, BB) rounded out the multi-hit performers on the day. Jones, Baird, and Melton each recorded one hit, with Melton also coming around to score three times in the late afternoon tilt. The Buffs combined for 15 hits across the two games.

The weekend was highlighted by two stolen bases from Gaven Jones that gave him a program record of 62 total steals in his career. The previous record was set by Scott Shealy with 61 career steals.

Game one saw Jack McLaury (6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K) deal well in a tough-luck outing before running into trouble in the seventh. Schnell came on with the bases loaded and was able to induce a double play to get out of the jam, but was tagged for a three-run homer in the eighth. Schnell finished with 2.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, and 1 K. McLaury got left with the loss on two earned runs, moving his record to 3-2 on the year.

The second tilt was started and finished by Canyon Geren (7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K), who went the distance and threw 86 pitches in the complete game victory.

Now, the Buffs (18-4, 9-3 AAC) have quick turnaround, as they will host No. 7-ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) on Tuesday, March 10. First pitch will be at 3 p.m. at Anglin Field.