MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Milligan University baseball's opening day festivities were held on Anglin Field, as a rainy Friday forced the Buffaloes to start their season oneday later than was originally planned. Unfazed by the change, Milligan took a pair of victories against the Georgetown College (Ky.) Tigers.
Georgetown scored the first two runs of game one in the top of the third inning, as they nabbed a run on a double play and then an RBI single with two outs made it 2-0 after three in favor of the visitors.
After an inning of trailing, the Buffs surged for a trio of runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Cade Kalehuawehe hit an infield single to score Gaven Jones from third base to begin the scoring for Milligan. One batter later, Tank Hansen reached on a fielder's choice to drive in their second tally in the form of Bryce Safferwich. With a pair of outs, Bryce Burkey hit a RBI single to center field, scoring the pinch-running Miller Spence. Milligan led 3-2 entering the fifth.
The Tigers tied things back up in the top of the fifth on a wild pitch with a runner at third base, making it 3-3 with two-and-a-half innings to play.
A wild pitch with the bases loaded by Georgetown in the bottom of the fifth inning allowed Jones to score his second run of the game for the Buffaloes, which gave MU a 4-3 lead entering the sixth.
Milligan would add on in the bottom of the sixth on a fielder's choice by Burkey to score Skyler Saunders from third. From there, Milligan would hang on for a 5-3 win in the first seven-inning battle to open their season.
Milligan got off to a quick start in game two, as Safferwich belted a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the first inning to bring home Angel Lobo.
The Buffs led 2-0 until the bottom of the third, when Safferwich struck again, smacking one deep to center field that landed deep against the wall. A collision with the fence by the center fielder allowed Safferwich to come all the way around for a solo inside-the-park homer to make it 3-0.
Up until the top of the fifth, the Buffaloes had held Georgetown to just a single hit, but then a pair of baserunners and a three-run homer to right field tied the game at 3-3.
Quickly, Milligan thwarted the comeback attempt, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on a RBI double by Josh Lail to score Braxton Baird, as well as an RBI fielder's choice by Burkey to bring home Saunders.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, the Buffs busted it open, scoring five times to go up 10-3. Nick Iezzi began the scoring wth a two-run single to right-center field. Then, a two-RBI single up the middle by Burkey brought in both Baird and Iezzi. Finally, a pinch-hit RBI single by Brody Melton brought home Burkey to end the day in style for Milligan.
Milligan had a few impressive offensive performances, with Safferwich (2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB, 3 R), Iezzi (3-for-5, 2 RBI, BB, R), Lobo (3-for-7, 2B, BB, 2 R), Baird (3-for-7, 2 R), Burkey (2-for-7, 4 RBI) and Kalehuawehe (2-for-3, 2B) sporting multiple hits.
On the mound, Canyon Geren started game one for the Buffaloes, allowing a pair of earned runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked a pair of batters in his four full innings pitched. Jacob Poe relieved him, allowing an earned run on three hits across two innings of work. He struck out two and walked one to earn the win. Finally, Creed Werker came in to slam the door in the seventh, notching the save on three straight strikeouts to end the Tigers' hopes.
Battle number two saw stellar work on the bump from the Milligan starter, Jacob Bishop, who hurled 4.2 innings and struck out nine Georgetown hitters with two free passes allowed. He led 3-0 but allowed a game-tying three-run homer in the top of the fifth, which ended his day. Drew Hoover came in to finish the battle, escaping a couple jams in 2.1 innings of work. He punched out five batters on strikes alongside just one walk to earn the win.
Milligan returns to Anglin Field tomorrow for another doubleheader against the Tigers starting at 1 p.m., as they look to earn a four-game series sweep.
