Buffs win series over Truett McConnell

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (April 23, 2022) — The Milligan University baseball team defeated by Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent (AAC) Truett McConnell University in both games of Saturday afternoon's doubleheader. The Buffs won game one by a score of 5-4 and game two by a score of 3-1.

Milligan climbs to 34-16 (19-8 AAC) while Truett McConnell falls to 24-19 (15-12 AAC).

Game One — Milligan 5, Truett McConnell 4 (12 innings) 

The Buffs were the first team on the scoreboard in game one as they scored three of their five runs in the bottom of the second. Josh Lail began the inning with a base hit to left field and advanced to third in the next at-bat on a throwing error from the Bears pitcher. Andrew Mathias then bunted for a hit to bring home Lail before Brandon Marello singled down the right field line to score Eric Rigsby. Anthony Guzman squeezed a two-out base-hit ground ball through the left side of the infield to score Mathias as Milligan took a 3-0 lead after two.

Truett McConnell scored its first run of the game in the top of the third as a leadoff double, Milligan error, and single up the middle trimmed the lead to 3-1 Buffs.

In the sixth, both teams traded a run as TMU used a single through the right side of the infield to score one but was unable to add another as Guzman hosed down the runner at the plate with a great throw from right field.

The bottom half of the sixth inning saw Mathias connect on a solo-blast over the left field wall to give Milligan a 4-2 lead.

The Bears answered with two runs on three hits and one Milligan error in the top of the seventh. After a fly out to left to begin the inning, a base hit to center field followed by a failed pickoff attempt allowed for the Bears baserunner to move up 90 feet to third base. Two more RBI-singles tied the ballgame at four runs apiece after seven.

After four consecutive scoreless innings, Marello launched a walk-off home run way over the left field wall in the bottom of the 12th to give the Buffs a 5-4 win and force a rubber match in game three of the series.

Marello and Mathias led Milligan offensively with three hits each while combining for four RBIs and three runs scored. Guzman and Justin Greene picked up two hits apiece with Guzman coming away with an RBI. Lail and Braden Spano also recorded hits for the Buffs in the game one victory.

Marello and Chancery Hall combined to throw 12 innings allowing eight hits, with one earned run to go along with eight strikeouts.

Game Two — Milligan 3, Truett McConnell 1 (7 Innings)

The Buffs struck first in game two as Marello led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second base on a throwing error from TMU. Greene then brought Marello around to score with a base hit to center field in the following at-bat.

Truett McConnell's only run came in the top of the fifth with a home run over the right field wall to tie the game at one run apiece.

Milligan answered with two runs on two hits in the home half of the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Marello drew a base on balls to start the inning, stole second base and advanced to third on Spano base hit through the left side of the infield. Following a pitching change, Guzman laid down a perfect RBI-bunt single to score Marello. Lail, in the next at-bat, recorded an RBI sacrifice fly to score Gaven Jones for the Buffs second run of the inning.

Over the final two innings, Brock Browning retired six of seven batters with the one reaching base via base on balls. Browning's final stat line was an efficient seven innings pitched, allowing only four hits and one earned run in addition to three strikeouts.

Greene, Guzman, and Lail finished with one hit and one RBI apiece in the matchup as Spano added a team high-two hits. As a team, the Buffs finished with seven hits in 23 trips to the plate and drew three walks as well.

Milligan returns to the diamond on Thursday for a conference matchup with Reinhardt at 4:00 P.M.