Marietta, Ga. (Feb. 6, 2011) --- The Milligan College baseball team picked up their first victory of the season as they split a doubleheader with #9 Southern Polytechnic State University on Sunday in Marietta, Ga. SPSU won the first game 3-2, while the Buffs pulled ahead late to take a 5-4 victory in the second game.

In the first game, Milligan was unable to hold onto a late lead as they fell 3-2. The Hornets opened the game with a run in the first. The Buffs scored in the third when Cody Hyder (Johnson City, Tenn.) crossed the plate off of a Cory Hilton (Johnson City, Tenn.) single. Hyder drove in Dustin Clawson (Johnson City, Tenn.) to give Milligan a 2-1 lead. However, SPSU tied the game in the bottom of the sixth and took the win in the final frame of the game.

Jason Trivett (Bristol, Tenn.) got the nod on the mound for the Buffs, and was handed the loss. Trivett went the distance for Milligan and allowed eight hits and struck out four batters. At the plate, Dustin Ford (Jonesborough, Tenn.) and Hilton were 2-for-4 and 2-for-3, respectively.

In the day's second game, the Buffs used a productive seventh inning to take the victory. After SPSU got the first run on the board in the bottom of the first, Milligan answered with two runs of their own. Kyle Kolat (South Bend, Ind.) crossed the plate off of Tyler Hutson's (Church Hill, Tenn.) sacrifice fly, and then Ford drove in Wesley Jones (Kingsport, Tenn.). The Hornets tied the game in the bottom of the second.

Milligan regained the lead with Hilton's solo homerun in the top of the fifth. The Buffs held the advantage until SPSU tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Ryan White (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Kolat crossed the plate in the seventh and final inning to give Milligan the victory.

Ford led the Buffs at the plate with a 3-for-4 effort. Bart Roark (Mountain City, Tenn.) and Luke Kirk (Gate City, Va.) were both 2-for-4. Jordan Rawlyk (Saskatoon, Canada) got the start, and gave up three hits and two earned runs in three innings of work. Sean Robinson (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished the game for the Buffs and allowed six hits and two earned runs.

Milligan moves to 1-3 on the season.

The Buffs return to action on Friday, Feb. 11, when they travel to Atlanta, Ga., for a weekend series with Atlanta Christian College.