Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MILLIGAN, Tenn.— The Montreat baseball team finished off its 3-game series with the Milligan University Buffaloes in Tennessee Saturday afternoon, taking the first contest by a 6-2 score prior to dropping a chaotic 5-4 decision to move to 12-13 (7-5 AAC) on the season.
 
The Cavaliers notched baserunners in scoring position in each of the initial four frames of game one; however, the visitors failed to convert in the first three opportunities. Despite the lack of scoring, Montreat broke the ice in the fourth in a major way.
 
Behind six hits, the Cavs plated six runs to put a crooked number up and lead 6-0 through the top of the fourth. Norman Kelly launched a 2-run bomb to left to start the scoring before RBI hits by Jeff Cardazzone, AJ Barrios, Jaider Morelos and Necumba Booker Jr. extended the advantage to its largest of the game.
 
Although Milligan (13-10, 4-8 AAC) struck with runs in the fifth and sixth frames to make it 6-2, the Cavaliers' pitching staff helped seal the team's triumph. Starter Daniel Willie cruised on the mound to keep the outcome in Montreat's favor. Over eight innings of work, the graduate student gave up just five hits and two runs while striking out 12 Buffaloes. Willie retired 12 of the last 14 he faced, and Joe Tomasello closed out the victory by pitching a perfect three outs in the ninth.
 
Four Cavaliers notched multi-hit contests as Montreat doubled up Milligan in hits (12-6). Caleb Abshier (2-4), Booker Jr. (2-4), Cardazzone (2-5) and Barrios (2-5) all notched more than one base hit. The Cavs went 4-for-12 with two outs compared to the home side's 1-for-11 in the same situation; Montreat also tallied seven hits in 20 tries with runners on to the Buffaloes' 1-for-14 effort and 0-for-9 showing with runners in scoring position.
 
Morelos started the second competition with a solo shot to give the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead before he doubled the advantage in the third with an RBI hit to right. With the Cavs seemingly cruising through the game, Michael Bell doubled in Barrios, and Will Gamble scored Bell to multiply the Montreat edge out to four in the fifth.
 
Though the Cavaliers pitched well through the first five frames, the visitors surrendered three runs in the bottom of the sixth to give Milligan life. The Buffaloes, who were outhit in the contest 10-3, utilized two walks, two hit-by-pitches and a wild pitch to cross a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh for a walk-off triumph and the series win.
 
Morelos captained the offense with a 3-for-4 showing at the dish and two RBIs. Gamble (2-3) also recorded multiple hits in the matchup.
 
Baseball now travels to Florida for a doubleheader against Trinity Baptist College on Tuesday. First pitch of game one in Jacksonville, Fla. is slated for 12:00 p.m.