Baseball slugs to doubleheader sweep of Bob Jones

GREENVILLE, SC. (March 31, 2023) – Milligan University defeated Bob Jones University 11-0 and 14-0 on Friday afternoon. The Buffs totaled 16 extra-base hits in the two shutout victories.

Milligan improves to 20-14 overall while Bob Jones slips to 3-20 on the season.

Game 1: Milligan 11, Bob Jones 0 (7 Innings)

After picking up a pair of singles to start the game, Caleb Berry was able to give the Buffs a 2-0 lead by hitting a 2-RBI double down the left field line.

Andrew Mathias extended the lead in the top of the second with a solo home run to left to make it 3-0. The Bruins picked up their first hit of the day with a pop shot to right field. The next two batters were put away by a groundout to shortstop and a strikeout by Jimmy Gamboa, respectively, retiring the side.

Berry was first up to bat to start the third and launched a home run to left field. Braden Spano later stepped up to bat with a runner on third. He hit an RBI double to right field to widen the gap between the teams. Jaden Stegall then hit a 2-RBI home run to give the Buffs three home runs in as many innings and extend their lead to 7-0.

With a lone out and the bases loaded in the sixth, Anthony Guzman hit a grand slam to left field on the first pitch of his at-bat. This was the Buffs fourth home run of the day and made it 11-0.

Gamboa picked up his eighth start and his tenth appearance. He pitched 5.0 innings, allowed only one hit and no runs. He improved his record to 4-3 on the year as he was credited with the win.

The Buffs outhit the Bruins 11-1, and hit .333 on 33 at-bats. Mathias was the leading hitter with three, Berry and Guzman each ended with a pair, while Logan Hullette, Jack Sutton, Spano and Stegall and tallied one a piece.

Berry, Guzman, Stegall, and Mathias all recorded a home run in the game.

Game 2: Milligan 14, Bob Jones 0 (7 Innings)

The Buffs reached base early as the first two batters up were hit by pitches. Milligan was then able to open up an early 7-0 lead. Four of these runs were scored with a pair of outs already recorded.

With a runner already on first, the Bruins were able to put their first runner in scoring position after hitting a single through the right side. Brandon Marello, who started on the mound for the Buffs, was able to leave the runners stranded and end the inning after picking up an infield fly and a fly out to left field, respectively.

With a pair of runners in scoring position in the third, Ryan Molinari was able to hit a two-RBI double to left field. This was followed up by an RBI single by Ángel Lobo and an RBI double by Guzman to give Milligan an 11-0 advantage.

Inning four saw Ethan Ammerman hot an RBI double down the left field line to drive home Spano. The Bruins were able to put a runner in scoring position after the first base runner advanced on a groundout, but the runner was left stranded after another groundout to second base.

Milligan once again extended its lead in the fifth inning as Berry hit an RBI sac-fly down the right line to see the lead extended to 13-0. The side was retired after a double play.

The sixth inning started fast as Spano hit the Buffs fifth home run of the day to make it 14-0. Jacob Poe stepped onto the mound to begin the sixth. He put away his first three batters faced three up, three down. The Bruins responded to this pitching effort by sending the first three batters faced back to the dugout.

Jack Bembry stepped to the mound for the final half inning. All three batters faced were once again as he was able to secure the second shutout of the day.

Marello earned his sixth start in seven appearances. He was credited with his fourth win on the year and improves to 4-1. He tossed 4.0 innings, gave up no runs and allowed only three hits.

Milligan takes on its second straight non-conference opponent as it travels to the University of Pikeville on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.