Eagles Drop Series to Milligan in Tough Day at Ken White

Waleska, GA - What started out very positively for the Reinhardt Eagles on Friday for the series opener quickly turned as the series resumed for the doubleheader on Saturday. Reinhardt Baseball fell in both ends of a doubleheader to Milligan University on Saturday at Ken White Field, dropping Game 1 by an 18-4 margin and Game 2 by a 12-5 final. Milligan used early offense and a pair of late-game surges to create separation in each contest, while the Eagles mounted rallies but could not overcome sizeable deficits.

In the opener, Milligan jumped out quickly with four runs in the first inning, sparked by a leadoff single from Braxton Baird and a two-run homer from Gaven Jones to stake the visitors to a 4-1 lead after the opening frame. The Buffaloes continued to add on with three runs in the third, two in the fourth, and single runs in the fifth and sixth before breaking the game open with a seven-run seventh. Reinhardt answered with a run in the first, two in the fifth and another in the seventh, but could not keep pace with Milligan's power-driven attack.

Reinhardt's offense in Game One produced seven hits, including a home run, two doubles, and a triple. Despite the outcome of game one, Jackson Rains hit his third home run of the season, and extra base hits came from Sam Holthaus' triple, and doubles by Cannon Dorsey and Miguel Salazar. Defensively, however, three Eagles errors extended several Milligan innings and contributed to the visitors' ability to put up multiple crooked numbers.

Milligan finished the opener with 18 runs on 16 hits and no errors, highlighted by a six-homer performance as a team. Baird led all hitters by going 4-for-5 with three home runs, five RBIs, and four runs scored, while Landon Lutterman added a two-run homer and also drove in five. Jones contributed a two-hit day with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored. On the mound, starter Jack McLaury earned the win with 6.0 innings of work, allowing three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Reinhardt used multiple pitchers in the seven-inning contest, with starter Chris Oates and the bullpen combining for 3.0 recorded innings for Oates and additional work from relievers as Milligan's lineup applied consistent pressure.

Game Two followed a similar script early, as Milligan again established control in the middle innings on the way to a 12-5 win. The visitors scored once in the first, then broke the game open with a five-run second inning keyed by a three-run homer from Jones that made it 6-0. Milligan added four more runs in the third, including a two-run single to right by Cade Kalehuawehe, to extend the lead to double digits. Two additional runs in the fifth pushed the advantage to 12-0 before Reinhardt mounted its best offensive stretch of the day.

Trailing by 12 in the nightcap, the Eagles put together a five-run rally in the bottom of the sixth to climb back into the game. Cannon Dorsey and Jackson Rains produced doubles in the sixth inning to cut the margin to 12-5 and force Milligan to the bullpen. The Eagles finished with five runs on five hits, but left six runners on base in the late innings. Defensively, Reinhardt committed just one error in the second game and settled in on the mound after the early Milligan outburst, holding the Buffaloes scoreless over the final two innings.

The Eagles will need to put this AAC series loss behind them and prepare for the upcoming week with two non-conference contests.  Reinhardt travels to the University of the Cumberlands on Tuesday for a single and then they will return for a weekend series with the Ottawa Braves as the team inches its way to an even record.