KINGSPORT, Tenn. –Junior Nick Stergiou led the charge for Bluefield University on Tuesday afternoon, driving in both of the Rams' runs—including a solo home run—as Bluefield opened the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament with an 8–2 contest against Milligan University at Hunter Wright Stadium.

The Rams (19-25) came out aggressive at the plate, with Andres Vega leading off the game with a sharp single to left. Stergiou wasted no time bringing him home with an RBI single, giving Bluefield the early 1–0 advantage and showing the Rams were ready to compete.

Stergiou continued his strong day at the plate in the fourth inning, launching his first home run of the season deep over the left-field wall to make it a 5–2 ballgame. He finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, providing a steady presence in the middle of the lineup.

Bluefield's offense also saw contributions from John Greenawalt and Moises Aristy, who each added hits. On the mound, Josh Nielson turned in a gritty six-inning start, scattering six hits and holding Milligan to just two earned runs while striking out three.

Despite the result, the Rams showed resilience and energy throughout the contest and now look ahead to a high-stakes match up on Wednesday morning.

Bluefield returns to action at 9:00 a.m. for an elimination game against Columbia International University. When the two teams met earlier this season, fans were treated to a thriller of a series. With that kind of history, the stage is set for another exciting battle as the Rams aim to extend their AAC Tournament run.