Baseball opens season with two one run wins over USCB

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. (January 28, 2022) – The Milligan university baseball team opened its 2022 season with a pair of one run victories over the University of South Carolina Beaufort on Friday. The Buffs defeated the Sand Sharks 3-2 and 2-1 in two seven inning contests.

Milligan opens the season at 2-0 while USCB falls to 0-2. The Sand Sharks earned an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round last spring.

Game 1 – Milligan 3, USCB 2

Milligan wasted little time scoring its first run of the season as a two-out RBI double by Braden Spano plated Brandon Marello, who led the off the game with an infield single.

The Sand Sharks quickly responded with two runs in the home half of the first. USCB took advantage of two hit batsmen, two walks and a triple to take a 2-1 lead. Jacob Poe escaped any more damage was a flyout to center field to end the inning with the bases loaded.

Both teams placed a runner in scoring position but neither added to their run total. Cade Davis doubled to left with two outs before the top half of the inning ended. In the bottom of the second, Anthony Guzman tracked down a fly ball at the warning track to end the inning and prevent a third USCB run.

The Buffs put two runners on in the third as Justin Greene and Spano rapped back-to-back singles with two outs. The inning ended before Casey Haire had an opportunity to bring the duo home as Greene was picked off trying to take third.

After a rocky first inning, Poe worked his way into a groove on the mound. He retired USCB in order with two strikeouts in the third and coaxed a double play in fourth to maintain the one run deficit.

Milligan's two out hitting continued in the top of the fifth as Marello battled through an extended at bat that resulted in another single to third base. Guzman brought him home with a double in left center to tie the game at two. Poe sat the Sand Sharks down in order in the bottom of the fifth.

Spano gave the Buffs their first lead since the first inning with a solo home run to right center field to lead off the sixth inning. Chancery Hall relieved Poe with two runners and one out in bottom of the sixth and got out of the inning with a pair of pop outs.

After two quick outs, USCB put the tying and go-ahead runs on base in the bottom of the seventh. Hall ended the threat with a pop out to first base to pick up the save and secure a 3-2 victory.

Spano finished the game 3-3 with a home run, double, two RBI and a run. Marello had two hits, two runs and a stolen base.

Poe went 5.1 innings, allowed three hits and two earned runs and had four strikeouts in his first win in a Milligan uniform.

Game 2 – Milligan 2, USCB 1

Milligan pushed across two runs in the top of the first with Guzman reaching base on an error and scoring on a wild pitch. Spano continued his hot start with a double into right center to bring home Greene.

Starting pitcher Andrei Beal did not allow a hit until the third inning when the Sand Sharks put runners on first and third with one out. Beal struck out the next two batters looking on 3-2 pitches to get out of the inning and preserve the Buffs' 2-0 lead.

Beal closed out his outing by striking out the side in the fourth inning. He tossed a scoreless four innings, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out eight on the day.

USCB scored in the bottom of the fifth and had a runner on second with nobody out but Brock Browning left the tying run stranded on third with three straight outs. Browning posted a one-two-three sixth inning to maintain Milligan's 2-1 edge.

In the bottom of the seventh, USCB had runners on second and third with two outs, but Browning ended the game with a punchout on a 3-2 pitch to end the game and record the save.

All four of Milligan's hits in game two came from Greene and Spano who had two apiece. Spano continued his hot start with two doubles and an RBI.

Milligan and USCB conclude their opening weekend series with a pair of seven inning contests tomorrow, starting at noon.