(RV) Buffs Baseball Surrenders Late Leads in Losses to No. 5 Cumberlands

MILLIGAN, Tenn. - On Tuesday, the (RV) Milligan University baseball squad did battle against the No. 5-ranked University of the Cumberlands Patriots on Anglin Field, as the doubleheader saw the Buffaloes drop both games after leading entering the sixth inning. They fell 4-2 in game one and 3-2 in the second contest.

Nick Iezzi got the Buffaloes' offense going early in game one, singling home Angel Lobo in the bottom of the first to put Milligan up 1-0.

Iezzi would return to prominence in the bottom of the third, doubling the MU lead with his second RBI single of the tilt. He brought home Bryce Safferwich on the knock.

The Patriots would finally get on the board in the top of the fifth, as a sacrifice fly brought home their first run, making it a 2-1 Buffs advantage.

Then, Cumberlands took advantage in the sixth, as they added on an RBI single and a two-run base hit to jump out to a 4-2 lead, which they would hold for the remainder of the contest. 

Milligan allowed the game's first run in the second bout, as a bases-loaded walk in the top of the third made it 1-0 Patriots.

The Buffaloes would gain the advantage in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by Bryce Burkey, who sent home Gaven Jones and Cade Kalehuawehe.

Yet again, the MU edge would disappear in the top of the sixth, as an RBI single tied the score at 2-2 with one inning left to be played.

A two-out run-scoring single put Cumberlands on top in the top of the seventh, as they led 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, where the Buffs were retired and fell by that score.

Safferwich (3-for-8, R, SB) supplied the most hits for the team on the day, while Iezzi (2-for-6, 2 RBI) was the only other Buff with multiple hits across the two contests. Milligan had just 12 combined hits in the 14 innings.

Milligan's starter on the bump in game one, Joe Ducharme, hurled 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on four hits. He left the game with a 2-1 lead. Drew Hoover came in next and absorbed the loss, throwing one inning and allowing three runs (two earned). Creed Werker ended the game on the bump with 1.2 innings of scoreless ball.

The latter tilt saw Patrick Collins toss 4.1 innings of three-hit, one-run work, as he left the game with a 2-1 lead. Unfortunately, Austin Maxey could not hold onto the lead, throwing 2.2 innings and allowing two runs on three hits.

Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests are on the near horizon for the Buffaloes, as they are set to host Kentucky Christian University on Friday, Feb. 21 in a nine-inning game to open the AAC slate.