Milligan College, Tenn. (March 30, 2013) --- The Milligan College baseball team split an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader with Virginia Intermont on Saturday afternoon at Anglin Field. The Cobras took the first game 6-1, but the Buffaloes captured an 8-3 victory in the second game to claim the series.
 
   In the first game, the Buffaloes jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Cory McPherson (Johnson City, Tenn.) scored off a Sam Tarlton (Chuckey, Tenn.) single. However, the Cobras responded with five runs in the top of the second to regain the lead, and Virginia Intermont added a run in the fourth inning to extend their lead. The Buffaloes were unable to take advantage of Hunter Carpenter (Sneedville, Tenn.) and Tyree Jeffries (Jackson, Tenn.) in the closing innings to close the gap.
 
   McPherson and Carpenter led the way at the plate as both were 1-for-2, while Tarlton was 1-for-4 with a RBI. On the mound, Brent Whittington (North Wilkesboro, N.C.) was handed the loss. Whittington allowed six runs, four of which were earned, on four hits with five strikeouts.
 
   The Cobras opened the second game with a single run in the top of the first. Milligan responded when McPherson crossed home plate on a Jeffries hit to tie the game in the home side of the inning. In the bottom of the second, Blake Buck (Maryville, Tenn.) and Tarlton scored on a Luke Kirk (Gate City, Tenn.) single to take a 3-1 lead heading into the third inning.
 
   After VI added a run in the top of the third, the Buffaloes started the inning strong when Brett Mercurio (West Palm Beach, Fla.) scored off a Buck single.  McPherson added two more runs when he drove in Nathan Millsap (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Buck, and McPherson crossed the plate to cap the inning and give the Buffaloes a 7-2 lead.
 
   The Cobras scored a run in the top of the fourth, but the Buffaloes stalled the VI rally with a double play. Milligan added a run in the bottom of the sixth as Millsap scored on a Buck triple. From there, the Buffaloes kept VI off the bases to preserve the victory.
 
   Buck was 3-of-3 with two RBIs, while Kirk finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs. McPherson was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.
 
   Jake Watts (Hickory, N.C.) picked up the win in five innings of work. Watts allowed three earned runs on nine hits.
 
   Milligan improves to 14-17 overall and 5-7 in AAC action.
 
   The Buffaloes return to action on Tuesday, April 2, as they host nonconference foe Southern Wesleyan. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.