(RV) Buffaloes Baseball Splits First Two AAC Matchups of 2025 with KCU

MILLIGAN, Tenn. — The (RV) Milligan University baseball team began their Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) season on Sunday against Kentucky Christian University on Anglin Field. The doubleheader started with a disappointing loss but was closed out by a dominant triumph in the second battle, as the Buffs split with the Knights.

It was a lethargic start to the day for MU, as they allowed the first four runs of the game across the opening three innings of play. Two of the four runs were unearned.

The Buffs finally cut into the lead in the bottom of the third, as Bryce Safferwich hit a two-run double down the left-field line to score both Miller Spence and Andrew Beavers, making it a 4-2 deficit.

Then, Milligan tied the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth, as a Tank Hansen double to right-center field scored Gaven Jones and a Reagan Smith two-bagger to left pushed Hansen across.

KCU would have the last laugh, however, as they got a two-out single in the top of the eighth with a runner at third to make it a 5-4 score, which would remain until the end of the battle.

Game two started in a similar fashion, as the Knights grabbed a single run in the top of the first to take a 1-0 lead. 

Milligan matched that run in the bottom of the second on a Smith double to right-center that brought home Jones to make it a 1-1 tie.

The bout's next runs came in Milligan's half of the fourth, as they finally had a big offensive inning. Cade Kalehuawehe started things off with his RBI single to bring home Spence, which was followed by an RBI infield single by Angela Lobo to trot home Ty Yurkovich. The big swing of the frame came via Nick Iezzi, who whacked a three-run missile around the right field foul pole to make it a 6-1 MU lead. Kalehuawehe and Lobo scored on the smash.

Another massive frame by Milligan would blow the game open, as the bottom of the sixth saw seven runs cross the plate. Beavers led it off with a solo homer to lead off the frame, making it 7-1. Lobo then had a run-scoring double, Iezzi had a two-RBI two-base hit, Josh Lail added a RBI double, Jones brought in a run on a double and Wyatt Heidle scored Jones on a sacrifice fly to center. Those tallies made the Buffs' win a 13-1 bludgeoning.

Iezzi (3-for-7, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R, SB) was the headliner for the Buffaloes' offense on the day, but Kalehuawehe, Safferwich, Lobo, Jones, Smith and Beavers also had two hits apiece, while the squad combined for 18 with nine in each contest.

Canyon Geren started for the Buffs in game one. He allowed four runs (two earned) in four innings with six punchouts before being lifted from the game to start the fifth. Jacob Poe pitched well in relief, allowing only three hits and one unearned run, unfortunately taking the loss while tallying six strikeouts.

Jacob Bishop was masterful on the slab in the second tilt, tossing six innings of two-hit ball with one earned run allowed and seven punchies. Brycen Denton came in to close the door with a scoreless inning in the seventh.

Milligan will have a chance to win the series on Monday, as the Buffs host the Knights for the rubber match at 12 p.m. on Anglin Field, looking to move to 2-1 in AAC play.