(RV) Baseball comes up short in AAC doubleheader

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (April 5, 2024) - On Saturday afternoon, the (RV) Milligan University baseball team was bested by the Rams of Bluefield University (Va.) in a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests at Anglin Field.

Each game ended with a two-run deficit for the Buffaloes, as the squad dropped game one by a 5-3 tally, and was shut out 2-0 in the latter matchup.

Milligan drops to 22-14 overall and 11-9 in the AAC with the losses.

The Buffs will be back at Anglin tomorrow, attempting to salvage the finale of the three-game series in the AAC against the Rams.

Game 1 - Bluefield 5, Milligan 3

Bluefield's offense was cooking in the first three-and-a-half innings, as a two-run double in the second, followed by a single tally in the top of the third and two additional runs in the top of the fourth. It was a 5-0 Rams lead entering the bottom of the fourth.

Gaven Jones came to the plate in the fourth inning for Milligan and deposited a ball over the left-field fence. The two-run blast brought in Jose Paula and cut the deficit to 5-2 in the visitors' favor.

Not much else went well for the Buffaloes lineup, as their only other run of the contest came in the bottom of the eighth with runners at first and third. Jones was thrown out stealing second and Paula came home from third base to make it 5-3, which is where the score would stay.

Game 2 - Bluefield 2, Milligan 0

Game two was a pitcher's duel from the outset, as the teams combined for only 10 hits over the course of the seven-inning bout. The two Bluefield runs came in the same inning, as a pair of RBI singles were converted in the top of the third.

Anfernee Fernandez, despite being tabbed with the loss, pitched admirably for Milligan. He turned in a complete-game effort and allowed just two earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and only one free pass.

The Buffs' offense had multiple hits in only one frame during the battle, dooming their chances to back their starting pitcher's valiant effort.