Baseball splits doubleheader against KCU

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 18, 2023) – The Milligan University baseball team split a Saturday afternoon doubleheader against Kentucky Christian at Anglin Field. The Knights used a five-run ninth inning to down the Buffs 8-5 in the opening game while Milligan cruised to a 16-3 win in game two.

Milligan moves to 15-11 on the season and 5-9 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) action. KCU is now 12-13, 3-10 AAC.

Game 1 – Kentucky Christian 8, Milligan 5

A five-run second inning gave Milligan an early 5-1 edge. After KCU scored twice in the third inning, neither team scored in the next five innings.

In the ninth inning, a sacrifice fly narrowed the margin to 5-4 Buffs. With two outs and a runner on third, the Knights got a do-or-die base hit to tie the game at five. After a hit batter, KCU's Evan Juniper cranked a three-run homer to give the Knights an 8-5 lead. The Buffs went down in order in the ninth as the Knights took the opening game win.

Milligan starting pitcher Jimmy Gamboa allowed three runs, two earned in seven innings of action. He allowed eight hits, struck out six and walked one.

Logan Hullette had three hits and two RBI. Casey Haire and Jaden Steagall each had two hits and two runs scored.

Game 2 – Milligan 16, Kentucky Christian 3

In the scheduled seven inning game of the series, Milligan scored two runs in the first inning and two in the second inning to lead 4-1. After KCU plated a pair of runs in the third, the Buffs brought home five runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and six in the sixth to run away with a 16-3 victory.

Hullette went 4-5 with a double, home run and five runs batted in. His courtesy runner Kobe Miles scored twice.

Anthony Guzman had two hits, two runs and two RBI. Haire and Braden Spano each had two hits. Angel Lobo, Caleb Berry, Jack Sutton and Andrew Mathias each scored twice. The Buffs had 14 hits and six walks in the game.

Brandon Marello tossed the first three innings and allowed three earned runs. Austin Maxey threw the final four frames, allowing one hits and no runs to pick up his first save of the year.

The Buffs and Knights play the rubber match of their AAC series tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at Anglin Field.