Trey Williams
Johnson City Press Sports Writer

KINGSPORT — Any decent chance Milligan had of winning the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament seemed to evaporate in the hot afternoon sun Wednesday at Hunter Wright Stadium.

The third-seeded Buffs stranded nine runners, including five in scoring position, and gave up three unearned runs in an 8-2 first-round loss to King.

Milligan (24-24) plays Bluefield today at 9 a.m. at King College. Bluefield lost 10-9 to No. 2 seed Montreat.

If the Buffs win they’ll play in Kingsport at 7:30 tonight. They have to win two games each of the next three days to claim the title.

“It’s really disappointing to come out flat in a big ballgame,” Milligan first-year coach Nathan Meade said. “It’s not like a light switch; you can’t just turn it on and off.”

Jace Smith pitched a complete game and Joe Craven went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs for the No. 6 seed Tornado (31-16), which plays Montreat today at 9 a.m. at Hunter Wright Stadium.

Smith (7-4), a right-handed junior from Dripping Springs, Texas, struck out nine and walked one while scattering 11 hits. He lowered the 1.31 ERA he had coming in, as he allowed one earned run.

“He threw just outstanding,” King coach Mark Conkin said. “He got ahead of the hitters.”

It looked like it’d be a pitchers’ duel early. King led 2-1 through four innings, and one of the two runs Milligan starter Nathan Fritz had allowed was unearned.

Fritz (8-5), the Buffs’ lone all-conference selection, beat King with a dominant outing during the regular season, but he was working on three days rest. He got a bad break when the Tornado got two more unearned runs in the fifth after a catcher’s interference call against Cody Cannon. It erased Mike Torrence’s flyout, putting him on first base instead, and eventually enabled Bryan Cruze to deliver a two-out, two-run single.

Milligan got within 4-2 in the top of the sixth after Brandon Murphy led off with a double down the left field line and scored on Ricky Morgan’s one-out single. But Smith struck out Danny Bacon and Garrett Reed, retiring the side with runners left at second and third.

King answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Craig Cant one-hopped the left field wall for a double that scored Drew Trujillo and came home on Craven’s single. The outcome wasn’t in doubt after that.

Milligan appeared inspired at the outset. Center fielder Bacon got a good jump to make a hard-charging diving catch that robbed Brett Cant in the first inning, and got to his feet quickly to make an accurate throw that doubled up Craven at first base.

Reed then denied Torrence extra bases with a difficult running catch at the warning track in right field. Left fielder Baker DeCamp added a long running catch for the third out in the bottom of the second.

“Our outfield defense has been solid all year long,” Meade said. “We battled early, but we had a couple of things go wrong and we rolled over.”

Milligan also got two good defensive plays from first baseman Justin Sauceman. He went toward the line to deny Torrence extra bases for the third out with runners at second and third in the third inning, and went to his right for a back-handed pickup and toss to relief pitcher Frank Newcombe to retire the side with the bases loaded in the seventh.

Sauceman, Murphy, Cannon and Morgan each had two hits for Milligan.

Among Craven’s four hits was his 12th triple of the season (second nationally). Trujillo and Craig Cant were each 2-for-4 and Cruze had two RBIs.

“We’re so even with Milligan,” Conkin said. “The Fritz kid threw well. ... It’s such a psychological edge to get a lead, and 90 percent of this game’s mental anyway.”

It was a frustrating day for King’s Torrence. The gate on the fence opened when he hit ran into it while chasing Bacon’s foul ball in the sixth inning, and Torrence left the game with an injury.

“We hope it’s just a deep bruise in his quad,” Conkin said. “He’s got less than 24 hours to get healthy.”

Milligan will pitch senior Brett Seybert (5-4, 1.44 ERA) this morning.