Milligan College, Tenn. (Feb. 20, 2010) --- The Milligan College baseball team spilt in their home opener Saturday afternoon on Anglin Field to the Warriors of Indiana Tech. The Buffs won the first contest 4-3, but the Warriors prevailed in the night cap by the final 4-0.  

The Buffs capitalized from the start thanks to a 3-run homer by senior Ricky Morgan (Johnson City, Tenn.) to deep center field. Morgan's homerun was his second of the year, with his other also coming in his first at bat.  

The Warriors would answer as they brought in one runner in the top of the fifth and two more in the top of the sixth, knotting the game at three runs apiece. In the bottom of the sixth, Morgan would cross the plate again compliments of a base hit by senior Dallas Crouch (Jefferson City, Tenn.), giving Milligan the advantage.  

All-AAC closer, Jason Trivett (Bristol, Tenn.), came in to finish off the Warriors in the bottom of the seventh. Trivett earned his first save of the year with a spotless performance; no runs, no hits and a strike out.  

Senior Colin Duffie (Calhoun, Ga.) got the start for the Buffs on the mound, although fellow senior Frank Newcomb (Knoxville, Tenn.) earned the win for the Buffs in game one. Duffie recorded five innings of work as he gave up three hits and no earned runs, while Newcomb scattered three hits, gave up two earned runs and struck out a batter.  

Offensively, Morgan led the Buffs as he was 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBIs. Kendall Williams (Dillon, S.C.) also had a good effort with the bat as he was 1-for-2 with a run scored.  

The Buffs got off to a sluggish start in the night cap with the Warriors posting two runs in the first inning and an additional run in both the third and fourth to stand atop of Milligan 4-0. Despite adding a few runners on board, the Buffs were unable to bring them across the plate as Indiana Tech went on to win it.  

On the mound in game two, senior Shawn Ray (York, S.C.) was credited with the loss in six innings of work. Ray scattered four hits, while giving up two earned runs and striking out five.  

At the plate in the night cap, Jones and Crouch recorded the Buffs' only hits for the ball game. For the contest, Jones was 1-for-2, while Crouch was 1-for-3.  

“It was good to get out on the field again,” commented Head Coach Nathan Meade. “I thought we came out and swung the bats well in the first game but then we just went into a lull. I feel like our approach changed and we just got ourselves out of rhythm. Hopefully we can make a few adjustments and come out tomorrow and try to win the series.”  

Milligan takes the field tomorrow for day two of the home stand against the Warriors, with the first game of the doubleheader slated to start at 12 p.m.