Baseball drops nonconference matchup at Carson-Newman

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. (February 1, 2022) – The Milligan University baseball team dropped a nonconference matchup at Carson-Newman 5-0 on Tuesday afternoon.

Milligan moves to 3-2 on the year while Carson-Newman starts 2022 1-0.

Carson-Newman threatened early with runners on second and third and only one out in the bottom of the first inning. Milligan starting pitcher Jack Bembry escaped without allowing a run with a foul out and then a strikeout to end the inning.

The Eagles were the first team on the scoreboard as two-out two-run triple by Harrison Travis gave C-N a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third. Bembry left a runner stranded 90 feet away as the next batter popped out to third.

A one-out bloop single in the bottom of the third brought the Eagles' lead to 3-0. With one out and runners on the corners, a high-bouncing ground ball went to Casey Haire at third and he fired home to John Combs to tag out a C-N runner who attempted to score.

Andrew Mathias became the first Buff to reached second base as he knocked a double into left center with two outs in the top of the fifth. Milligan remained scoreless as his pinch runner Cody Wheeley was stranded.

C-N added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to grow its lead to 5-0.

In the top of the seventh, singles by Braden Spano and Eric Rigsby put runners on first and second with two outs. Mathias ripped a low line drive on the left side of the infield but a diving play and throw to third base by the Eagles' shortstop ended the inning.

Justin Greene singled to lead off the ninth but was thrown out attempting to steal second. C-N held on for the 5-0 shutout victory.

Rigsby finished with two hits. Mathias had Milligan's lone double.

Six different pitchers saw action for the Buffs. Bembry allowed four hits and two earned runs, along with three strikeouts and no walks in three innings. TJ Kuhn, Josiah Carrier and Sean Clark all worked scoreless innings in relief.

Milligan hosts the Clash of Conferences Tournament this weekend.