Buffs complete series sweep over CIU in opening weekend of AAC play

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 19, 2022) – The Milligan University baseball team wrapped up the opening weekend of conference play with a sweep over Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Columbia International University. The Buffs win-streak now sits at nine in a row after winning both games in Saturday's doubleheader. 

Milligan climbs to 13-3 (3-0 AAC) while CIU falls to 4-11 (0-3 AAC)

Game 1 – Milligan 8, CIU 4

A two-out RBI single in the top of the first gave CIU a 1-0 advantage. Milligan got the run right back in the bottom of the inning as Justin Greene drew a two-out walk and scored from first base when the Rams' center fielder bobbled the ball on a Braden Spno single.

Milligan starting pitcher Gaven Jones posted three consecutive strikeouts to end the inning.

The Buffs brought home four runs, all with two outs, in the bottom of the second inning. Eric Rigsby hustled into a double to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After a pair of strikeouts, Robert Salcedo brought Rigsby home with a single up the middle. Salcedo advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a base hit by Brandon Marello. A double steal with Marello and Anthony Guzman turned into a run with a throwing error allowing Marello to come home. Guzman scored on a wild pitch before CIU recorded the final out of the inning.

CIU used its own leadoff double to score in third inning to make it a 5-2 ballgame The Rams had a runner on third with two outs in the fourth, but Jones coaxed a pop out to Spano to end the half inning.

Greene drove in Marello with two outs in the fourth to bring the Buffs' advantage to 6-2. Jones notched another three strikeout inning in the fifth.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Milligan with nobody out in the bottom of the sixth. Augustus Fraley lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Marello, but Rigsby's drive to deep center field was tracked down to end the inning.

A two-out double for CIU brought the score to 7-3 in the seventh, but reliever Jacob Poe got the next batter to ground out to second to end the inning.

Milligan tacked on a run in the eight on an error to lead 8-3 going into the ninth. A pair of walks and an errant throw led to a Rams run in the ninth, but Poe recorded a groundout to end the game.

Jones picked up his second win of the season as he allowed two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out nine and walked three. Poe earned his first save as he pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth, giving up two unearned runs and posting three strikeouts.

Greene reached base five times as he was 3-3 with two walks, two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases. Marello was 3-5 with three runs, an RBI and two stolen bases.

Game 2 – Milligan 10, CIU 1 (7 innings)

CIU tallied a run in the top of inning to begin game two. The Rams then loaded the bases with one out, but Milligan starter Marello got a strikeout and force out to leave three runners stranded.

CIU left the bases loaded again in the second inning as Marello struck out the Rams' cleanup hitter looking to end the threat.

Spano swatted an opposite field solo home run to lead off the bottom of the second for his third longball of the season.

In the top of the third, a 6-4-3 double play helped Marello defuse a leadoff double and walk. The Rams left a runner stranded 90 feet away as Marello closed the frame with a strikeout.

Guzman cranked a double off the fence in left center with one out in the third. Greene followed with a walk and a successful double steal had the duo on second and third. A ground ball off the bat of Spano got away from the CIU third baseman, which allowed both runners to score for Milligan to take a 3-1 lead.

The Buffs extended their lead to 5-1 with two runs in the fourth. A misplayed popup resulted in Gaven Jones reaching second base to lead off the inning. A pinch-hit RBI single by Logan Hullette brought Jones home. Kobe Miles, pinch running for Hullette, stole second, advance to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a run-scoring single by Marello.

Milligan added five more runs in the sixth extending their lead to 10-1. Jones led off the inning with a walk and later scored on a base on balls with the bases loaded. Greene singled home another run with a line drive between first and second base before Chancery Hall cleared the bases with a triple over the head of the CIU right fielder.

Hall, replacing Morello in the top half of the seventh, slammed the door on the Rams with a 1-2-3 inning which included a ground out to first base and two strikeouts. The Buffs finished the game with ten runs on seven hits by seven different players. Morello and Hall combined for seven strikeouts in seven innings of work. Miles, Guzman, Greene, and Spano each recorded a stolen base in addition to six players picking up RBIs in game two.

Milligan hosts Bluefield in a nonconference game at Anglin Field on Tuesday.