Buffs win series over KCU

GRAYSON, Ky. (March 21, 2022) – The Milligan University baseball team split a doubleheader matchup with Kentucky Christian University losing game one by a score of 11-10 while winning game two by a score of 11-8. With the game two victory, the Buffs picked up their fourth Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series win of the year.

Milligan climbs to 21-11 (10-5 AAC) on the season while Kentucky Christian falls to 16-13 (4-11 AAC).

Game 1 – Milligan 10, Kentucky Christian 11

Game one remained scoreless after the first three innings before both teams added a run in the fourth.

Milligan scored one or more runs in every inning, excluding the eighth, for the rest of the game. One run in the fifth, two runs in the seventh and three runs in the sixth and ninth gave the Buffs a 10-1 lead going into the final frame.

Kentucky Christian poured on ten runs in the last inning, edging Milligan by one run to set up the rubber match in game two.

Brandon Marello, Anthony Guzman and Gage Huffman all recorded two RBIs with Robert Salcedo adding a team-high three.

Guzman and Braden Spano picked up three hits apiece in the contest as they combined for three extra base hits and three runs scored.  

As a team, Milligan stole eight bases for the game with Justin Greene leading the way with three of his own.

Marello turned in a solid outing on the mound with seven innings pitched, four hits and one earned to go along with seven strikeouts.

Game 2 – Milligan 11, Kentucky Christian 8 (6 innings)

The Buffs were the first to post a run in game two as they scored once in the first inning. In the bottom of the second, the Knights answered with two runs to take a 2-1 lead into the third.

Milligan tied the game in the third inning before busting it wide open with a nine-run fifth. Kentucky Christian responded with six runs over the final two frames to trim the lead to three, but the big inning for the Buffs proved to be too much to overcome for the Knights.

Greene led the way offensively collecting two hits, both doubles, in four trips to the plate in addition to a team-high three RBIs.

Guzman, who went two-for-three in the game, finished with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Augustus Fraley also provided two hits and a run scored. Marello, Salcedo, Spano, and Eric Rigsby combined for four hits, two RBIs and four runs scored.

Andrei Beal threw an efficient five innings allowing four hits, three earned, all while striking out eight Kentucky Christian hitters as he picked up his fifth win of the season.

The Buffs will return to the diamond on Wednesday with a nonconference matchup at Alice Lloyd.