Cleveland, Tenn. (Feb. 11, 2010) --- The Milligan College baseball team took on the fifth ranked Lee (Tenn.) University Flames Thursday afternoon in their season opener. The Buffs (1-1, 0-0) fell to the Flames (3-1, 0-0) in the first game, 4-3, but won the night cap by a final of 8-3.

After a scoreless first inning, the Buffs put the first run on the board after senior Ricky Morgan (Johnson City, Tenn.) homered in his first at bat of the 2010 season. The Flames would answer the Buffs in the bottom of the second as Lee's Ross Collins hit a 2-run homerun to take the lead over Milligan.  

In the top of the third, sophomore Ryan White (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit a double to right field and then advanced to third on a bunt from senior Randy Rabon (York, S.C.). White would score on the error, while Rabon was secure at first. Milligan eventually drove Rabon across the plate on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Wesley Jones (Kingsport, Tenn.), but the Buffs' scoring would end there for game 1.  

Senior Colin Duffie (Calhoun, Ga.) was handed the loss in five complete innings of work in the Buffs opener. Duffie scattered three hits and yielded four earned runs, while striking out two on the day. For the year, Duffie is 0-1.  

Leading the Buffs at the plate was senior Kendall Williams (Dillion, S.C.) who was 2-for-4 in the first game, and Eric Oxley (Ardmore, Tenn.) who was 1-for-3. As a team, the Buffs put up seven hits in comparison to the Flames three. The Buffs also left seven runners on base. 

In the second game of the Buffs, Flames, double-dip, Milligan took a deciding victory over Lee as they jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead after two complete innings.  

After two quick outs in the top of the first, senior Todd Caldwell (Johnson City, Tenn.) got things going for the Buffs with his seeing eye single. Morgan followed suit, advancing Caldwell to third base. With runners on the corners, Jones hit a 3-run shot to deep left to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.  

Milligan picked up right where they left off in the top of the second scoring three runs on two hits and an error. The Flames tried to muster a comeback in the bottom of the second but could only tally one run. The Buffs would match it in the top of the third as White drove in Jones with the single to left.  
The score remained the same until the bottom of the sixth when Taylor Comford hit a bloop single to right bringing in two Flames. Milligan sophomore Josh Hullet (Knoxville, Tenn.) would eventually get out of the inning and the Buffs tacked on the insurance run in the top of the seventh to finish off Lee.  

Senior Shawn Ray (York, S.C.) earned the win in five innings of work during game two, as he yielded just one earned run on three hits and struck out three. For the year, Ray is 1-0.  

Jones and White led the way for the Buffs at the plate during the second game both going 2-for-3. Jones pitched in two runs scored and three RBIs, while White had a run and a RBI apiece.  

Offensively, the Buffs scored eight runs on nine hits and only stranded two runners. The Flames recorded five hits on the day but were only able to drive in three runs.         

“It was a good win for us today, but I'm a little disappointed we could not win both of them,” commented Head Coach Nathan Meade. “We had several looks with guys in scoring position during the first game and we couldn't convert. Lee has a solid program and it was good to see our guys compete with them the way we did today. I thought we swung the bats well today and played some solid defense.” 

The Buffs travel to Toccoa Falls College Friday, Feb. 12, and Saturday, Feb. 13, for a three game series against the Eagles. Action begins Friday at 2 p.m., with a single nine inning contest.