BRISTOL, Va. (March 1, 2014) â€" Luke Kirk had two hits and three RBI's to help the Milligan College baseball team avenge an 11-0 defeat in game one with a 7-6 victory in game two of the team's conference-opening doubleheader against Virginia Intermont Saturday.

Milligan (5-5, 1-1 AAC) and Virginia Intermont (4-8, 1-1 AAC) will decide the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

In game one, Milligan starting pitcher Ethan Fleenor threw four strong opening innings, but things began to unravel for him in the fifth when the Cobras, already up 2-0, took advantage of two Milligan errors to push six runs across. They added three more in the sixth.

Milligan was held to four hits in the loss as VI's Ben Jarboe tossed a complete-game (seven-inning) shutout, striking out three and walking five.

In game two, the Buffaloes struck early with three runs in the top of the second. Hunter Carpenter had a two-RBI triple with one out and was scored a batter later on Chavez Golden's infield single.

Milligan padded its lead to 7-2 with runs in the third, fourth and sixth. Kirk's RBI-single to center in the sixth, which scored two, proved to be the difference in the game as VI plated four runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the seventh. The Cobras put the tying run on base with one out and worked him into scoring position with two out, but Milligan reliever Jake Howell was able to strike his way out of the jam.

In game two, Kirk was 2-for-4 with three RBI's. Golden was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Carpenter was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI's.

Jake Watts was the winning pitcher, going 4.0 innings and allowing three hits, two (earned) runs, and two walks.

After concluding the series on Sunday, Milligan will head to Berea College for a midweek matchup Wednesday, March 5. The Buffs will be home next weekend against AAC foe Union College.