KINGSPORT, Tenn. — AJ Villa pitched a complete game, while Daniel Neal blasted a three-run bomb to advance Union College baseball to the next round of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament as the Bulldogs defeated the No. 3 seeded Truett McConnell 6-3 in the first round on Wednesday.

With the upset, No. 6 seed Union improves to 25-22 overall, while Truett McConnell falls to 28-18.

RECAP

With Bulldogs down 1-0 at the top of the fourth, Neal collected his first RBI scoring Joe Gaines to tie the game at 1-1. In the top of the sixth, Neal hit a 3-run homer for his fifth of the year to give Union a lead 4-1. In the bottom of the inning, the Bears closed the gap to make it 4-3 after a Union error and an RBI double.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 6-3 as Nick Shumaker singled to center to score Sinjin Shoop after he reached on a single. The final run crossed the plate as Gaines scored on a Bears error to finish the game 6-3.

QUOTABLE

“We played a great game all around,” said Villa. “As Jake Mendoza would say, ‘Work through the grit.’ That is what we did today on the mound, on the field, in the dugout, and at the plate. I grinded on the mound, and my team had my back. It was a great win to open up the conference tournament.”

BULLDOG NOTES

On the mound, Villa pitched his fifth complete game, striking out four batters.

Neal hit a three-run homer while going 2-for-4 from the plate and four RBIs

Shumaker went 2-for-3, scoring one and bringing in one.

NEXT UP FOR THE BULLDOGS

Union will face the winner of No 2 seed Bryan College (Tenn.) on Thursday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.