KINGSPORT, Tenn. — Bryan College's baseball team pulled off one of the tournament's biggest upsets Friday afternoon, defeating top-seeded Milligan University 7–4 to advance to the championship game. The Lions, entering the contest at 26–23, showed no fear against a Milligan squad that came in at 40–12 and carrying the full weight of a number one seed.
Starter Eli Walker was the story of the afternoon. The right-hander worked 7.1 innings, holding the Buffaloes to just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out four. Walker was efficient and composed throughout, navigating Milligan's lineup with confidence and keeping Bryan firmly in control. He improved to 3–1 on the season, and his 91-pitch effort gave the Lions' bullpen exactly what it needed to finish the job.
Bryan struck first in the second inning when Logan Stradley came around to score on a Brodie Genter single to left field. The Lions blew the game open in the third, plating three runs on five hits. Cyrus Campos led off with a solo home run to right field, Caleb Ramsey followed with an RBI double to left-center to score Denajh Williams — who had tripled to lead off the frame — and Morgan Halliday capped the rally with an RBI single to right, pushing the lead to 4–0.
Will Curcio kept the foot on the gas in the seventh, drilling a solo home run to left field to make it 5–0. Bryan added another run in the eighth on a Cade Cook RBI single, and got an insurance run in the ninth when pinch runner Chris Hall came around to score on a wild pitch, making it 7–2 heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Milligan refused to go quietly. The Buffaloes scored two in the eighth on a Brody Melton walk and a Nick Iezzi groundout, then rallied for two more in the ninth on a Braxton Baird RBI single and a Gaven Jones sacrifice fly. But the hole was simply too deep. Tanner Everett retired the side to seal the victory and send Bryan to the championship.
Campos was electric at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs. Cook finished 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Genter went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Ramsey and Halliday each drove in a run in the pivotal third inning, and Walker's mound performance anchored the entire effort.
Bryan now advances to the championship game, where they will look to complete a stunning tournament run. The Lions proved Friday that their record doesn't define them — their fight does.
