Milligan Baseball Dealt Series Loss with Doubleheader Sweep at the Hands of St. Andrews

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Milligan University baseball was looking to clinch a series win on Saturday afternoon against the St. Andrews University Knights after winning game on of the series on Friday. Unfortunately, following a quick start to the first game, the Buffaloes could not keep pace with the Knights in a high-scoring first game. Then, a low-scoring battle in game two went the way of the visitors, as well, dealing the Buffs a series loss.

Prospects were high for the Buffaloes in the first inning, as the St. Andrews starter struggled with command, dealing bases-loaded walks to Angel Lobo, Gaven Jones and Reagan Smith to make it 3-0. Then, a two-RBI single by Andrew Beavers brought home those three men, due to an error in the outfield on the knock. The Buffs led 6-0 after one inning.

An error in the bottom of the second by the Knights allowed another run to score for the Buffaloes, as they took a 7-0 lead after two. 

Milligan then allowed a four-run top of the fourth by the Knights, as a three-run triple and an RBI single made it a 7-4 Knights deficit after three-and-a-half.

Lobo launched a solo homer to left-center field in the bottom of the fifth to make it 8-4 for Milligan, but that would be the final lead that the Buffs would hold, as St. Andrews delivered vengeance in the top of the sixth.

All told, nine runs came across for the Knights in the sixth, as they took a 13-8 lead. Two RBI singles, three bases-loaded walks and a grand slam set the Buffs back massively.

Nick Iezzi whacked an RBI double to score Smith and Brody Melton delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Skyler Saunders in the bottom of the sixth. Those tallies cut the deficit to 13-10.

St. Andrews scored three times in the seventh and twice more in the ninth to eventually win the game 18-10, as the Buffaloes simply could not keep pace.

Game two's script was different, as a low-scoring battle materialized. The Knights scored twice in the second inning on a two-run single to lead 2-0.

Milligan's first run of the game didn't come until the fifth inning of the contest, as a pinch-hit single to left by Bryce Burkey scored Saunders, making it 2-1.

In the top of the seventh of the seven-inning tilt, the Knights grabbed a two-run single to make it 4-1. 

An RBI groundout by Burkey scored Trey Massengill in the bottom of the frame, but that would be all for Milligan in their 4-2 loss, clinching the series loss.

Milligan actually only had 14 hits across the day's 16 innings, as they had just four players with multiple hits on the afternoon. Lobo led the way with three hits, which all came in the high-scoring game one of the day. Jack Sutton, Tank Hansen and Smith each had two hits across the two contests.

An uncharacteristic game for the Milligan pitching staff occurred in the first bout, as Spencer Rife afforded SAU eight runs (four earned) on seven hits in five innings pitched. Each of the next three relievers, Brycen Denton, Creed Werker and Wesley Babcock allowed multiple runs in a combined three innings. Kaleb Meredith allowed the last two runs (one earned), while Kaden Wise had 0.2 scoreless innings.

A lack of run support for Jacob Bishop in the second contest resulted in his first loss of the season on the bump, as he allowed four runs on just two hits in the game. He did issue four walks in the battle with a quartet of punchouts to his name.

Tuesday, Mar. 25 is the next time that the Buffs will be on the diamond, looking to avenge an ugly series loss with a non-conference win against WVU Tech in Beckley, W.Va.