Baseball runs win streak to five games with doubleheader sweep of Bob Jones

GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 12, 2022) – The Milligan University baseball team upped its early season win streak to five games as the Buffs swept Bob Jones in a doubleheader in South Carolina on Saturday.

The Buffs rise to 9-3 on the season and posted a winning weekend for the third-straight week to open the year. Bob Jones falls to 0-3.

Game 1 – Milligan 10, Bob Jones 3

Bob Jones threatened to score first in the bottom of the second inning in game one. A one-out single was followed by a double to put runners on second and third. Starter Gaven Jones prevented any damage as he worked out of the jam with a pair of punchouts to keep the game scoreless.

A solo home run by Justin Greene to lead off the fourth inning gave Milligan a 1-0 advantage. Back-to-back walks by Braden Spano and Chancery Hall put pressure on the Bruins with nobody out, but a double play ball and lineout prevented the Buffs from adding on.

In the home half of the fourth inning, a pair of walks and a flyout put runners on second and third with one out. Once again, Jones bore down and struck out the next two Bruins to end the inning.

The longball provided the Buffs' next two runs as well as Anthony Guzman swatted a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to bring home Brandon Marello and give Milligan a 3-0 edge.

A two-out passed ball brought home Bob Jones' first run of the day in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

Milligan's lead grew to 6-1 in sixth as a Hall cross the plate on a double steal and Andrew Mathias smacked a two-out, two-run single to score Kobe Miles and Ben Grable.

Bob Jones scored twice in the bottom of the sixth on a balk and an error. A double play ended the inning and left two runners stranded to keep Milligan's lead at 6-3.

A bases loaded walk by Robert Salcedo pushed Milligan's lead to 7-3. Eric Rigsby singled home Greene and Spano and Salcedo scored on a balk. After the dust settled in the seventh, Milligan led 10-3. Brock Browning sat down the Bruins in order to close out the seven inning victory.

Jones picked up his first win of his career as he allowed just two hits and no runs in four innings. He struck out four and walked two. None of Milligan's four relievers allowed a hit. Browning did not allow a baserunner in 1.2 innings of work.

Game 2 – Milligan 13, Bob Jones 1 (5 innings)

A 13-run second inning was more than enough for Milligan to earn a run rule victory over Bob Jones and secure a series sweep over the Bruins.

Milligan smacked eight hits, walked five times and took advantage of two errors in the top of the second as the Buffs batted around in the second. Josh Lail had two hits, two runs, a double and RBI in the inning. Greene had two hits and drove in three runs in the inning. Guzman and Augustus Fraley also doubled in the hit parade.

Marello pitched all five innings for the Buffs and picked up his third win of the season. He allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out 10 and walking none.

Lail had a career high three hits and scored twice. Greene had two hits and three RBI. Guzman drove in a pair and scored twice.

Baseball returns to action Wednesday at home against Alice Lloyd.