MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (March 23, 2018) â€" After suffering from a slow start in game one, the Milligan College baseball team rebounded in a big way in game two to earn a doubleheader split against Appalachian Athletic Conference foe Reinhardt University Friday night on Anglin Field. Milligan lost the first game 3-1 but won the second game 6-4.
 
PITCHERS' DUEL | GAME ONE
Starting pitcher Cameron Harper turned in another great start in game one, allowing only four hits and three runs over eight innings but suffered the loss as the Buffs were slow to get the bats going. Milligan managed only three hits on the offensive side as Reinhardt starting pitcher Jason Gifford went the distance allowing only one run and no walks while striking out nine.
 
Milligan tagged Gifford for its first run of the day in the bottom of the ninth when Jascanel Ferreras took him deep down the left field line for his third home run of the season, all of which have come in the last five games.
 
BIG START | GAME TWO
Although Ferreras' home run was not enough and proved to be all the scoring Milligan did in game one, it helped create a spark for the Buffs in game two. After starting pitcher Jeffrey Mefford worked around a few base runners in the top of the first, Milligan gave him four runs of support in the bottom half. Two runs came in on an error following a Ferreras sacrifice bunt, then two more came in via a Bailey Russell single and Thomas Miller double.
 
Milligan led from that point forward, although Reinhardt trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the second and also had the tying run at the plate with nobody out and again the tying run on first with two out in the seventh. Reliever Connor Simpson closed the door in the final inning by striking out the side, including striking out two batters looking.
 
LEADERS
Mefford threw six innings in game two, allowing three hits, three runs (none earned) and five walks while striking out seven. Harper went 2-for-2 in the nightcap while Miller was 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Four other Buffs recorded a hit as Milligan defeated a Reinhardt club which is receiving votes in the latest NAIA coaches top 25 poll.
 
UP NEXT
Milligan and Reinhardt were originally scheduled to finish the three-game series on Saturday, but the forecast of rain is likely to push the game to a later date. Fans can visit the baseball schedule page at milliganbuffs.com for the most up to date schedule information.