Fifth Inning Troubles Drops Eagles in Second Game of the AAC Tournament

Kingsport, TN - In a closely contested battle at the AAC Baseball Tournament, the Reinhardt University Eagles fell short against the Milligan Buffaloes with a 5-3 score on Thursday afternoon. The Eagles had a rough fifth inning, which ended up costing them the game

Reinhard had a 1-0 lead going into the fifth inning when Milligan erupted for four runs, decisively shaping the outcome. Reinhardt's starting pitcher, Tate Dearing, managed to secure two outs in the inning but then faced a challenging sequence where he surrendered three singles and a double. This surge by the Buffaloes was the ultimate turning point in the contest.  Milligan added one more in the sixth inning along with the Eagles.  After this, Reinhardt's offense was only able to get one more across the plate.

Despite the loss, several Eagles players made significant contributions. Robert Phelps, Nash Crowell, and Cade Chamlee scored runs for Reinhardt. Phelps along with Jacob Mantooth and Chamlee, also contributed with RBIs, heightening the competitive edge of the game.  The offense will have to figure out how to get going in the tournament, or it could be an early exit for the #1 seeded Eagles..

Looking ahead, the Eagles will not have much time to dwell on this setback as they are scheduled to face the CIU Rams at 9 am on Friday morning. The tournament is very simple for Reinhardt now - win and keep playing, or lose and go home. With a current season record of 39-10, the Eagles are eager to bounce back and showcase their enduring spirit in the upcoming contest.

On a positive note, Reinhardt Baseball got the good news earlier that they will be hosting the Opening Round on the NAIA National Tournament.  With the regular season AAC title, Reinhardt has an automatic spot in the tournament, and they will repeat as hosts in a couple of weeks in Waleska.