Basball drops series to No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan

Athens, Tenn. (March 5, 2022)— The Milligan University baseball team dropped games two and three of the Buffs' three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series with Tennessee Wesleyan University. In game two, the Buffs were defeated by a score of 21-1 and lost game three by a score of 11-6.

Milligan falls to 16-8 (6-3 AAC) while Tennessee Wesleyan climbs to 20-1 (9-0 AAC).

Game 1: Milligan 1, Tennessee Wesleyan 21

Tennessee Wesleyan, after retiring the side in the top half of the first, scored four runs in the bottom of the inning. The Bulldogs executed a double steal to give themselves two runners in scoring position with only one out. A sacrifice fly scored the first run of the game before a hit by pitch and three-run home run put Tennessee Wesleyan in front 4-0 after one.

The Bulldogs struck again in the home half of the second as they scored four more runs to take an 8-0 lead after two. The leadoff batter for Tennessee Wesleyan reached base on a Milligan error before an attempted sacrifice bunt turned into a bunt single giving the Bulldogs runners at first and third with no outs. The Buffs retired two of the next three Tennessee Wesleyan hitters before a two-out grand slam blew the game wide open.

The Buffs only run came in the top of the third as a result of a Robert Salcedo two-out double into left center field followed by an error by the Tennessee Wesleyan second baseman. Additionally, the only clean inning of the game came for Milligan in the bottom of the third inning via a fly out to left field and two pop ups to the infield.

The Bulldogs would go on to add three more runs in the home half of the fifth and seven runs in the bottom of the sixth. As a team, Tennessee Wesleyan collected 14 hits, including four home runs and 19 RBIs, on their way to 21 runs for the game. The Buffs were led offensively by Salcedo as he was responsible for Milligan's only two hits as well as the only run.

Game 2: Milligan 6, Tennessee Wesleyan 11

Milligan got the scoring started in game two after a hit by pitch and Bulldog error gave the Buffs runners on first and second with one out. Braden Spano followed that up with a single up the middle to load the bases for Josh Lail, who picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly into right field. After the top half of the first inning, Milligan lead Tennessee Wesleyan 1-0.

In the bottom of the first, Tennessee Wesleyan picked up two runs on two hits to take the lead. A two-out double to left center scored the Bulldog runner on second base before a single through the middle of the infield gave Tennessee Wesleyan their second run.

After a 1-2-3 inning for both squads in the second, Milligan tied the game in the top half of third. A walk and error by the Bulldogs gave the Buffs runners on first and second with two outs before Lail doubled down the right field line to plate the Buffs' baserunner on second. Tennessee Wesleyan grabbed the lead again in the home half on a two-run home run to right field gave the Bulldogs a 4-2 going into the top of the fourth.

Milligan added three runs in the top half of the fourth as Andrew Mathias started the inning off with a double to right center. Cade Davis then hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to tie the game at four. Anthony Guzman came to the plate with two-outs and hit a missile over the center field wall to give the Buffs a one-run lead (5-4). Tennessee Wesleyan was able to tack on another run in the bottom half of the fourth to tie the game at five.

Spano lead the top of the fifth off with a single into right field before pinch runner Logan Estep advanced to third in the next at-bat on an error from the Bulldog third baseman. Chance Hall then picked up the RBI on a fielder's choice that plated Estep. A strikeout followed by a ground out ended the Buffs' hopes off adding on to their one-run lead in the inning.

Three home runs for Tennessee Wesleyan in the bottom of the fifth allowed for five runs to cross the plate in the inning. Milligan was retired in order in the sixth and seventh for a final score of 11-6 to give the Bulldogs the victory.

Lail and Davis combined for four RBIs in the matchup with Guzman accounting for half of the Buffs' runs scored in the game. As a team, Milligan collected seven hits on their way to six runs for game two.

The Buffs will return to the diamond on Tuesday for a nonconference matchup against Pikeville at 3:00 p.m. at Anglin Field.