Buffs edged by Cumberland 8-7 in non-conference clash

LEBANON, Tenn. (March 01, 2022) — The Milligan University baseball was defeated by Cumberland University 8-7 in a visiting non-conference matchup on Tuesday afternoon. After carrying a two-run lead into the bottom of the ninth, the Phoenix scored three runs on two hits to walk it off over the Buffs.

Milligan falls to 16-5 after the loss while Cumberland climbs to 7-14 for the season.

The Buffs got on the board first in the top of the second inning courtesy of a leadoff homerun to right field from Braden Spano. Milligan had an opportunity to add on to their lead as they had the bases loaded with one out but a strikeout and fly out ended the Buffs chances of tacking on any more runs.

Back-to-back hits from Anthony Guzman and Justin Greene got things rolling for the Milligan offense in the top half of the third. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Guzman was able to score on an RBI groundout to second base that gave the Buffs a 2-0 lead through the first three innings.

Milligan picked up two more runs in the fifth as a leadoff walk and ensuing double from Brandon Marello gave the Buffs baserunners on second and third with no outs. Two groundouts in a row led to runs crossing the plate for Milligan as they increased their lead to 4-0 through five innings.

The Phoenix tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth following a leadoff homer, unearned RBI groundout, two-out double, and RBI single allowed for four Cumberland's runs to cross the plate in the inning. Cumberland took the lead in the home half of the seventh after a leadoff walk lead eventually lead to a run on a two-out go-ahead RBI double.

The Buffs answered the big inning from Cumberland with a big inning of their own in the top half of the eighth as they scored three runs while also taking advantage of some miscues by the Phoenix. Josh Lail leadoff the inning with a single to the right side of the infield before a sac bunt moved him into scoring position with one out. Gaven Jones, pinch running for Lail, stole third base and scored on a passed ball to tie the game. 

After a wild pitch moved two Buffs' baserunners into scoring position, an RBI groundout and an additional throwing error led to two runs crossing the plate for Milligan as they took a two-run lead into the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Buffs loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth but were unable to push across any runs in the inning. Back-to-back groundouts led to force-outs at the plate before a fly out to right field ended the inning.

Cumberland scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to spoil the Buff's road trip for the mid-week non-conference matchup. A leadoff walk, followed by a single and wild pitch, put the tying run into scoring position with no outs. After the next Phoenix hitter drew a base on balls, a sacrifice fly into left field scored one to trim the Milligan lead to only one run before a walk-off single gave Cumberland the win 8-7.

The Buffs recorded twelve hits as a club as Lail finished with a team-high three on the day. Marello, Spano, and Greene all had two hits while combining for two RBIs and three runs scored. Guzman led Milligan in the RBI category with two himself as he also picked up one hit and scored a run.

The Milligan pitching staff struggled as a collective going 8.1 innings, giving up 12 hits, seven earned runs and seven walks while only recording three strikeouts for the game.

The Buffs will return to action on Friday as they begin a visiting weekend series at No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan at 2:00 p.m.