MARION, N.C.— After halving a doubleheader on Friday against the Milligan University Buffaloes, the Montreat baseball team dropped the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Big League Camp in Marion, N.C. by a 7-4 scoreline. Milligan's three-run ninth inning proved to be the difference as the Cavaliers fell to 16-13 overall and 5-7 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.
 
Milligan (19-9, 8-4 AAC) started Sunday afternoon's contest on the front foot, utilizing a trio of singles and two productive outs to push three runs across home plate in the first inning.
 
The Cavaliers had a few opportunities to close the gap on Milligan by placing a runner on second base in the bottom half of the first, third and fifth innings; however, the Montreat offense couldn't quite muster that missing base knock to plate a runner.
 
After allowing three earned runs in the first inning, Montreat starter Daniel Willie settled in on the mound. The Ooltewah, Tenn. native held the Buffaloes scoreless from the second inning through the sixth inning, surrendering just one hit while serving up six strikeouts over that same span.
 
Willie's pitching gave the Montreat offense time to come up with some run production. The Cavaliers used that to their advantage by scoring in the sixth, seven and eighth innings.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Montreat capitalized on a single and three walks to score its first run of the ballgame. Michael Bell's pinch-hit walk with the bases loaded brought OJ Borroto home, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
 
Milligan tallied an unearned run in the seventh, but the Cavaliers got that run back in the bottom half of the frame on a wild pitch that scored Chase Bruno.
 
Bell led off the eighth inning with a single, and CJ Mack drew a pinch-hit walk to put the Cavaliers in business. Consecutive productive outs, including a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rafael Padilla, drew Montreat closer at 4-3. Then, with two outs, Bruno's hustle earned an RBI infield single that knotted the game at four.
 
Undeterred by Montreat's resiliency, Milligan pieced together a big ninth inning at the dish against the Cavalier bullpen. A walk, a stolen base and a single placed runners on the corners for the visitors. From there, a sacrifice fly and a two-run homer aided the Buffaloes in retaking the lead. The Cavs managed to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the frame, but a flyout to right field sealed the game and the series victory for the visitors, 7-4.
 
Willie, who leads the NAIA with 69 strikeouts, pitched eight innings for Montreat, giving up six hits and four runs, three earned, while striking out eight Buffaloes. At the plate, six different Cavaliers registered a hit, but only Daniel Wetmore (3-4) recorded multiple base knocks in the defeat.
 
The Montreat baseball team heads south to Jacksonville, Fla. for its next action, a non-conference doubleheader today at Edward Waters University. First pitch of game one is slated for 4:00 p.m.