Milligan Baseball 2024 Visual Preview

2023 AT A GLANCE

28-22 (12-17 AAC, 9th)

  • Milligan earned a spot in the AAC Tournament and won their opening game to reach bracket play.
  • The Buffs knocked off national qualifier Cumberland twice, including when the Phoenix were ranked #25 in the nation.
  • Despite a slew of injuries to the pitching staff, the Buffs ranked second in the AAC in ERA (5.06) and WHIP (1.46).
Logan Hullette ('23) was the program's first-ever College Sports Communicators Academic All-American and a First Team All-AAC selection.

20233 Leaders

Batting Average:

  • Logan Hullette: .381
  • Anthony Guzman: .367
  • Casey Haire: .351
  • Caleb Berry: .346
  • Braden Spano: .297

Runs Batted In:

  • Caleb Berry: 47
  • Braden Spano: 37
  • Logan Hullette: 36
  • Anthony Guzman: 35
  • Angel Lobo: 28

Home Runs:

  • Caleb Berry: 10
  • Anthony Guzman: 7
  • Braden Spano: 5
  • Andrew Mathias: 5

Innings Pitched:

  • Creed Werker: 63.2
  • Jimmy Gamboa: 58.1
  • Brandon Marello: 47.0
  • Joe Ducharme: 44.1
  • Austin Maxey: 37.1

Earned Run Average:

  • Brandon Marello: 2.30
  • Jimmy Gamboa: 3.09
  • Chance Hall: 3.86
  • Creed Werker: 4.24
  • Joe Ducharme: 5.08

HEAD COACH SKYLER BARNETT

Coach Skyler Barnett (ETSU '12) enters his fifth season as the Milligan baseball head coach.

Barnett led the Buffs to winning seasons in each of his first four years and won his 100th game at Milligan last spring.

2024 STORYLINES

  • New Turf - Milligan installed new infield turf at Anglin Field. The Buffs went 11-6 at Anglin last spring.
  • Back to Business - Pitchers Andrei Beal and Gaven Jones return to Milligan's pitching staff after missing most of last season with injury.
  • The Gauntlet - The AAC sent three teams to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round last year.

KEY RETURNERS

Caleb Berry

  • Senior Caleb Berry led the Buffs in hits, RBI, home runs and stolen bases in his debut season at Milligan.
Berry earned All-AAC Second Team honors as an outfielder in 2023.

Braden Spano

  • Senior first baseman Braden Spano set Milligan's career doubles record (52) last spring.
Spano was an All-AAC Second Team pick in 2022.

2024 SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE NOTES

  • The AAC schedule includes 10 three-game series against conference opponents.
  • The Buffs' nonconference schedule is highlighted by midweek home-and-home matchups against national qualifiers Cumberlands and Cumberland.
  • The top 10 teams qualify for the AAC Tournament, which will take place April 30-May 3 at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingsport.