Buffs split doubleheader with Montreat
MARION, N.C. (March 11, 2022) - The Milligan University baseball team split a doubleheader matchup with Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Montreat College on Friday afternoon at the Big League Camp complex. The Buffs took game one by a score of 3-2 while Montreat won game two by a score of 5-3.
MARION, N.C. (March 11, 2022) - The Milligan University baseball team split a doubleheader matchup with Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Montreat College on Friday afternoon at the Big League Camp complex. The Buffs took game one by a score of 3-2 while Montreat won game two by a score of 5-3.
Milligan is now 18-9 (7-4 AAC) while Montreat is 16-12 (5-6 AAC).
Game 1: Milligan 3, Montreat 2
Anthony Guzman gave Milligan its first baserunner of the game with a one-out double in the top of the first. Justin Greene followed up the double with a home run to center field to give the Buffs an early 2-0 lead. Back-to-back walks set Milligan up with an opportunity to add on to their lead but two pop outs to the Cavalier infielders ended the inning.
Two walks in the bottom half of the first gave Montreat runners on first and second base with no outs. After a pop out in foul territory, a passed ball in the next at bat allowed for both Cavalier baserunners to advance into scoring position. A one-out single into center field led to one run crossing the plate for Montreat in the inning.
The Cavaliers tied the game in the bottom of the second after a walk, sacrifice bunt, and two wild pitches allowed for a Montreat run to cross the plate.
Milligan added a run in the top half of the fourth to retake the lead from the Cavaliers. A leadoff single to right center field from Chance Hall followed by a Robert Salcedo double down the third base line proved to be all the Buffs would need for the remainder of the game as they won game one by a score of 3-2.
Gaven Jones earned the win in game one throwing the final six innings in relief while allowing no hits, one walk, and five strikeouts.
Greene led the Buffs in RBIs with two while also adding two hits for the game. Guzman led the team with three hits and also scored a run. Hall scored the games last run and picked up a hit in the contest as well.
Game 2: Montreat 5, Milligan 3
Follwing a 1-2-3 inning in the top half of the first for Montreat, a leadoff home run in the bottom half of the first gave the Cavaliers a quick 1-0 lead. Montreat loaded the bases with two outs but a pop out to the Buffs' second baseman ended the inning.
In the home half of the second, back-to-back home runs with one out gave the Cavaliers an early three-run lead over Milligan.
The Buffs got two runs back in the top of the third inning to trim the deficit to only one run. Andrew Mathias, after leading off the top half of the third with a hit by pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a Brandon Marello single into center field. The second run of the inning came via a Guzman double into left center as it plated Marello
Milligan tied the game in the top of the fourth after Josh Lail got on base with a one-out single and later scored on a squeeze play with Mathias laying down a perfect bunt to score the run. A home run in the home half of the fourth gave Montreat the lead again as they added their fourth run of the ball game. Another Cavalier home run in the bottom of the sixth ultimately put the game away for Montreat as they won game two by a score of 5-3.
Lail, Marello, Guzman, and Braden Spano accounted for Milligan's four hits as they all picked up one in the contest. Lail, Mathias, and Logan Estep crossed the plate for Milligan in game two to score the Buffs' three runs. Marello, Guzman, and Mathias also picked up one RBI apiece.
The Buffs will return to the diamond tomorrow for the rubber match against Montreat at 1:00 p.m.
