MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (March 23, 2014) â€" Two runs in the fourth inning was all Milligan College starting pitcher Tyler Wilson needed in Sunday's deciding series finale at Anglin Field as the Buffaloes defeated Reinhardt University 2-1.
 
Wilson (3-2) scattered eight hits and two walks and gave up one (unearned) run over seven innings, helping Milligan improve to 14-9 (7-5 AAC). Reinhardt fell to 23-11 (8-4 AAC).
 
Brett Mercurio and Sam Tarlton provided Wilson the run support with two out in the fourth inning, driving in Milligan's runs with a couple of RBI-singles. Mercurio produced the first run on a single up the middle after Edwin Soto hustled to keep the inning alive by beating out an infield single then stole second. Tarlton followed by pushing Mercurio across for the second run on a base hit that took a wicked hop over the glove of Reinhardt shortstop Michael VanWie.
 
The Eagles looked to cut into the Milligan lead two innings later when they loaded the bases with no out. After a hit, a walk, and a bunt single led the inning off, Wilson settled in to retire the next three.
 
Wilson ran into similar trouble in the seventh when VanWie reached on a two-out single, and two errors allowed him to score. Reinhardt managed to load the bases later in the inning but, again, left three stranded.
 
Corey Jenkins pitched in Wilson's relief and closed the door on Reinhardt for the final two innings. In the eighth, Jenkins allowed a lead-off single, which represented the tying run, come around to third with two out but escaped on a ground ball to short. He threw 10 pitches in the ninth and collected his first save of the season.
 
Soto and Brandon Malone each finished the day with two hits. Mercurio was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
 
Reinhardt, which left 13 men on base in the loss, had four batters record multiple hits, including VanWie who was 2-for-5 with a run. Third baseman Justin Schlie was 2-for-3 with a walk.
 
Starting pitcher Bobby Gazzola (5-3) threw a complete game, striking out seven and walking none over eight innings but was the losing pitcher. Gazzola allowed seven hits and two earned runs.
 
Milligan will be at home Tuesday, March 25 for a midweek game against Emory & Henry College starting at 3 p.m. on Anglin Field. The Buffs will head to Point University in West Point, Ga., next weekend.