Milligan Eliminates SMC from AAC Tournament, 6-2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Spartanburg Methodist | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
|
Milligan (TN) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 6 | 9 | 0 |
The loss closes the first season under head coach Tyler Miller with a 26-24 overall record for the Pioneers. Milligan, the AAC regular-season champion, improves to 39-12 and advances in tournament play.
SMC wasted no time getting on the board, opening the game with three consecutive hits. Brady Jeffcoat led off with a double to left-center field and advanced to third on a bunt single by Elijah Franz. Blake Exizian followed with an RBI single to plate the first run. After a sacrifice bunt by Dario Astudillo moved runners to second and third, Jarian Pinckney added an RBI groundout to give the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead.
Milligan answered immediately in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on two walks. Brody Melton delivered a two-RBI double with one out to tie the game at 2-2. The Buffs took control in the second inning on a two-RBI single by Cade Kalehuawehe and added to the lead in the fourth with another RBI single from Kalehuawehe. Milligan tacked on an insurance run in the fifth to account for the final margin.
Milligan starter Jonah Ward went the distance, allowing six hits while striking out nine to improve to 8-2 on the season. SMC starter Miles Corcoran worked 2.2 innings, striking out five, and took the loss to fall to 2-2.
The Pioneers conclude a season that exceeded preseason expectations, finishing fourth in the AAC standings after being picked 10th.
Offensively, SMC posted a .303 team batting average, led by Elijah Franz's .410 mark. Brady Jeffcoat hit .371, while Blake Exizian added a .351 average. Franz led the team with 68 hits, followed closely by Exizian with 66. Exizian also paced the team with 41 RBI and shared the team lead in home runs (6) with Jeffcoat, Tanner Martin, and Jarian Pinckney.
Tanner Martin contributed a .307 average with 50 hits, 34 RBI, and a team-high 18 doubles. Jeffcoat recorded a team-best .638 slugging percentage and a .485 on-base percentage, while Franz led the team with a .490 on-base percentage and 17 stolen bases. Matt Smith closed his collegiate career with a .321 average, five home runs, and a .418 on-base percentage.
On the mound, Travis Dannecker led the staff with five wins, four complete games across 13 starts, and 44 strikeouts. Out of the bullpen, Nicky White posted a 3-1 record with four saves over 28.2 innings.
