Buffs win 5-2 over Union College

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 25, 2022)— The Milligan University baseball team defeated Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opponent Union College 5-2 in game one of the three game series on Friday afternoon.

The Buffs climb to 23-11 (11-5 AAC) with the win while Union falls to 5-13 (4-9 AAC).

The first run of the game came in favor of Union in the top of the third inning. After a groundout and strikeout punched out the first two Bulldog hitters, the next Union batter singled up the middle and later stole second and third base. Another single through the middle of the infield plated the first run of the game as Union led 1-0 after three.

The Buffs tied the game in the bottom half of the sixth after a Bulldog error led to a Milligan run crossing the plate. Augustus Fraley flared a pitch into right field in which the Union fielder misplayed the ball causing Fraley to move all the way up to third base. A swinging strikeout on a ball in the dirt skipped by the catcher and went all the way to the backstop allowing the Buffs to score.

Both Milligan and Union threatened to score in the seventh with runners in scoring position but ultimately could not push across any runs.

The Buffs added four runs in the home half of the eighth to take a commanding 5-1 lead. A leadoff single from Andrew Mathias followed by hard hit line drive up the middle from Justin Greene gave Milligan baserunners at first and third with one out. A perfectly placed bunt down the first base line from Eric Rigsby gave the Buffs their first run of the inning as he ended up on first base with a single.

In the next at-bat, Anthony Guzman doubled down the left field line to pick up the RBI as well as advance Rigsby to third base. Braden Spano then followed with a double of his own into left field to score both Guzman and Rigsby. Union was able to pick up one run in the top of the ninth but Brock Browning closed the door with a strikeout and line out to end the Bulldogs chances of a comeback securing the Milligan victory with a final score of 5-2.

Rigsby and Guzman collected the only two RBIs of the game for the Buffs as they combined for two hits and two runs scored. Greene and Mathias also added one hit and scored a run as well in addition to Spano and Logan Hullette each recording a hit.

Gaven Jones threw eight innings allowing seven hits but only one earned run while striking out nine as he picked up his sixth win of the year.

The Buffs return to the diamond tomorrow with a doubleheader matchup against Union starting at 1:00 p.m.