Baseball splits doubleheader at Truett McConnell

CLEVELAND, GA. – After suffering a high scoring loss on Thursday night, Milligan baseball picked up a doubleheader split over Truett-McConnell. Game one finished 5-1 in favor of the Buffs, while game two saw the Bears walk away with a 2-1 victory.

Records – Milligan moves to 27-17 overall and 12-14 in AAC (Appalachian Athletic Conference) games. Truett-McConnell shifts to 33-11 overall and 17-7 in AAC matchups.

Game 1 – Milligan 5, Truett-McConnell 1

After Logan Hullette doubled to left field to start the game, the next three batters were not able to produce anything as they were put out by a swinging strikeout, a ground out, and a line out, respectively.

Creed Werker was given the start for the Buffs. After hitting the base batter faced, he was able to compose himself and put away the next three with a pair of ground outs and a fly out, retiring the inning.

With a lone out and a runner in scoring position in the top half of the second, Brandon Marello grounded out into a double play that left the runner stranded. The Bears were also able to see a runner reach scoring position, but also saw him left stranded.

The deadlock was finally broken in the top half of the fifth as the Buffs scored five runs and took a 5-0 advantage. The first run was scored off an RBI-single to right by Hullette, which was immediately followed by an RBI-double to center from Anthony Lobo. After Caleb Berry was intentionally walked, one runner scored off of a wild pitch. The final pair of runs in the inning were scored as Casey Haire singled and reached second on a throwing error by third base.

Werker was relieved of his duties on the mound in the bottom half of the eighth by Austin Maxey. After putting away the first two batters faced, Maxey was one out away from ending the inning. The Bears utilized a solo home run to left field to ruin this, and cut the lead to 5-1.

With one final chance, Maxey was able to finish the game in three up, three down fashion and secure the Buffs victory.

Werker picked up his fourth win of the season and improved to 4-1. He tossed 7.0 innings, allowed only three hits and struck out one batter. Maxey was one inning shy of recording a save as he tossed 2.0 innings. He faced seven batters, struck out four, and allowed one run on one hit.

Game 2 – Truett-McConnell 2, Milligan 1 (7 Innings)

Game two saw a better start for Truett-McConnel as they were able to record a pair of hits in the bottom half of the first. Both runners, however, were left stranded as Marello picked up a strikeout to retire the side.

With Kobe Miles in scoring position in the top of the third, the Buffs utilized an RBI-single from Hullette to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bears responded almost instantly as they scored a pair of runs in their half of the inning to grab a 2-0 advantage. The runs were scored on an RBI-single to center and an RBI-double to left, respectively.

Chance Hall stepped to the mound in the bottom of the fifth with two outs already recorded. He picked up the third out of the inning with a strikeout looking.

Milligan opened the sixth inning with a single to center field from Haire. Andrew Beavers came on as a pinch runner and was able to reach third just two batters later after an error by the third baseman. This was as far as he reached as a flyout by Andrew Mathias retired the side.

Heading into the top half of the seventh, Milligan had one final shot at evening up the score. Hullette started the inning with a flyout to right field. This was followed by a pair of groundouts to shortstop and the pitcher, respectively, and allowed Truett-McConnell to walk away with a 2-1 victory.

Marello was credited with the loss and moves to 7-6 on the year. He threw 4.2 innings and allowed only two runs on nine hits. Hall tossed the final 1.1 innings and gave up no runs or hits, and struck out a pair of batters.

On the day, the Bears out hit the Buffs 13-12. Hullette went 3-for-8 on the day followed by Mathias who hit 3-for-7. Braden Spano was 2-for-7, while Haire and Lobo also recorded a pair of hits while going 2-for-8.

Milligan continues its on the road this Tuesday as it takes on Bluefield (VA). This will be a single gam with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.