KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- In its Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship tournament opener on Saturday evening, the No. 5-seed Reinhardt College baseball team lost 7-5 to the fourth-seeded Milligan College Buffaloes. The nine-team, double-elimination event is being held at Hunter-Wright Stadium with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship tournament.  

Milligan led 1-0 after scoring once in the bottom of the fourth inning before Reinhardt answered with a four-run fifth. The Buffaloes regained the lead, 7-4, after tallying six runs in the sixth and the Eagles concluded the scoring with a run in the eighth.

Milligan edged Reinhardt in hits, 9-8, and each squad made an error. The Eagles left 13 runners on base, compared to five for the Buffaloes.

Michael Willis paced the Reinhardt offense by going 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and three RBIs while Billy King finished 1-for-2 with a double, a walk, a sacrifice hit and two runs scored. Blaine Martin went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a sacrifice bunt while Jeremy Roberts homered, walked and drove in a pair of runs. Joe Niehoff singled and drew a walk while Mike Smothers and Brett Flick each collected a hit. Michael Lonati added a run scored.

On the mound for the Eagles, Matt Carter got the start and went 5 1/3 innings with four strikeouts. Matt Barger followed and took the loss before Ben Gonglach kept Reinhardt in the contest by surrendering just one hit, no runs and no walks over the final 2 2/3 innings.

The Eagles slip to 26-23 overall while Milligan advances at 30-19. In tournament action on Monday in Kingsport, Reinhardt faces the No. 8-seeded Montreat College Cavaliers in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m.