Buffs drop midweek matchup to Cumberlands

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (April 12, 2022) – The Milligan University baseball team was defeated by University of the Cumberlands 17-8 in a midweek nonconference matchup on Wednesday afternoon. 

Milligan fell to 30-14 on the season while Cumberlands, who received voted in the latest national rankings, climbed to 28-14.

The Patriots left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning as Preston Miller worked out of a jam unscathed. A foul out to the catcher, force out at the plate, and line out to second base ended the inning for Cumberlands before they could do any damage.

Cumberlands scored four runs on four hits in the top of the fourth to take the lead over the Buffs. A single to right followed by stolen base and wild pitch gave the Patriots a baserunner on third with no outs. A base hit up the middle in the next at bat scored the first run of the inning before a three-run home run cleared the bases.

In the top of the sixth, Cumberlands exploded for ten runs on four hits supplemented by three Milligan errors. The Patriots hit back-to-back home runs in the inning including a grand slam. Additionally, a double and two base on balls led to a plethora of runs for the Patriots as the Buffs struggled to get outs.

Milligan added two runs in the home half of the sixth on two hits. Justin Greene led the inning off with a walk, followed by a single to right from Braden Spano. After a fly out to center advanced Greene to third base, Andrew Mathias roped a two-out double to left center to plate both baserunners.

The Buffs scored three more in the bottom of the seventh on two hits and one Cumberlands error. Greene got the inning started for Milligan with a two-out RBI triple followed by an RBI double from Eric Rigsby. The third run of the seventh came via a fielding error from the Patriots second baseman.

In the top of the ninth, Cumberlands homered twice in the inning to extend its lead to 17-5. In the bottom half, Spano picked up an RBI on a ground ball down the foul line which was knocked down by the Patriot third baseman. Josh Lail then followed up with a single through the right side of the infield to score another run before Robert Salcedo ripped a hard-hit ground ball back through the middle of the infield to plate another. Unfortunately, a ground ball to first base ended the Buffs chances of mounting any sort of comeback.