Buffs score seven in ninth-inning rally but fall just short to Bluefield

Milligan is now 13-4 on the season while Bluefield remains undefeated and climbs to 10-0 with the win.

Bluefield came out swinging in the top of the first inning pushing across two runs on two hits. The Buffs were able to get one run back in the bottom half after Brandon Marello led off with a walk, stole second, and later scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Justin Greene.

The Rams offense exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth as they pieced together five hits in the inning but left three runners on base. In the top of the fifth, Bluefield added another run after a leadoff walk, single and a sac bunt moved runners into scoring position before a sacrifice fly gave them a 7-1 advantage going into the bottom of the fifth.

Bluefield nearly tacked on another run in the top of the sixth, but a fantastic relay by the Buffs led to Andrew Mathias gunning down a Rams baserunner at the plate to get Milligan out of the inning with no harm done. However, Bluefield was able to push two more runs across in the top half of the eighth to extend their lead to 10-1 going into the final inning.

Graham Hooker retired the side in the top half of the ninth to set the stage for what was almost a phenomenal comeback by the Buffs. Leading off the bottom half of the inning, Robert Salcedo ripped a line drive into left field to give Milligan its first hit of the ballgame. After a hit-by-pitch to the next batter, Anthony Guzman hit a screamer down the left field line, scoring both runners on first and second base.

After the next two batters were sat down via popups to the infield, things started to look dim for the Buffs as any hope of a comeback attempt was waning. Logan Hullette drew a walk in the next at-bat to give Milligan baserunners on first and second base. Kobe Miles then hit a hard ground ball to the left side that was knocked down by a diving second baseman but beat out the throw to first to load the bases.

Two hit-by-pitches and an error from the Rams shortstop led to three Milligan runs in a row to cut the deficit to just four runs with the tying run coming to the plate. Gaven Jones, representing the tying run, hit a high chopper over the head of the Bluefield third baseman scoring two runs while also giving himself a double in the scorebook. Unfortunately for Milligan, the next batter struck-out looking to end any hopes of a comeback.

The Buffs will be back at Anglin Field on Friday beginning a weekend conference series with (RV) Bryan College at 3:00 p.m.