Buffs top No. 15 Bryan in AAC split doubleheader
A trio of home runs in game one helped the Milligan University baseball team split a doubleheader with No. 15 Bryan Friday night on the road. Milligan won game one 11-5 but lost game two 1-0.
DAYTON, Tenn. (March 26, 2021) – A trio of home runs in game one helped the Milligan University baseball team split a doubleheader with No. 15 Bryan Friday night on the road. Milligan won game one 11-5 but lost game two 1-0.
The day moved Milligan to 19-12 (8-6 Appalachian Athletic Conference) this season, as the Buffaloes have won eight of their last 11.
Game One | Milligan 11, No. 15 Bryan 5
Anthony Guzman hit a solo home run in the first, then Justin Greene hit a solo home run in the second, and Milligan quickly led 2-0. The Buffaloes expanded that lead out to 5-0 after a three-run fourth, then 7-1 after a Brandon Marello two-run homer in the sixth.
Five hits and an error in the eighth helped Milligan round out its scoring with four runs in its second-to-last frame.
Braden Spano led the offensive effort with a three-hit game, while Marello, Guzman and Robert Salcedo produced two-hit games. Jacob Crumbly got the start and went the first six innings on the way to a winning decision. His line included six hits, three walks and one strikeout.
Game Two | No. 15 Bryan 1, Milligan 0
Bryan evened the series with what ended up being only one swing of the bat. All the scoring of the nightcap came in the second inning on a solo home run, and despite the Buffaloes out-hitting the Lions 5-3, they came up empty for only the third time this season.
Marello made the start and went the distance of the seven-inning game, finishing with a line of six innings, three hits, one run, one walk and seven strikeouts. Greene accounted for two of the Buffs' five hits, going 2-for-2 with a walk.
Greene also represented Milligan's last good chance to score, reaching on a base hit to center field to lead off the top of the seventh. After Casey Haire bunted Greene to second and Kirby Smith walked, Milligan had the go-ahead run on board with only one out. That go-ahead run would get to scoring position on a groundout by Augustus Fraley, but the Buffaloes would once again come up empty.
Up next
Milligan and Bryan wrap the series with the rubber game Monday at 3 p.m. The finale was pushed back due to incoming rain.