MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The (RV) Milligan University baseball squad had a pair of matchups with the No. 6-ranked team in the nation on Tuesday afternoon, the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots. The two seven-inning tilts had opposite results for the Buffs, who hung with UC in game one until the late stages before falling, but delivered a ridiculous offensive performance in game two to earn the non-conference split. It was the Buffs' first ranked win of the season.

Game one saw Cumberlands get going early on offense, as two tallies were put up in the very first frame. A two-run homer by the No. 3 hitter in the UC order made it 2-0 after a half-inning.

Two more Patriots runs would score in the top of the second, when a pair of errors and three hits combined to extend the Cumberlands lead to 4-0.

Later, in the top of the fourth, A sacrifice fly with the bases loaded led to the fifth run of the tilt for the Patriots, as they added on to their lead.

Finally, the seal was broken on the Milligan side of the scoreboard, as a RBI groundout by Luis Quintero drove Cade Kalehuawehe in to make it 5-1.

The Patriots would erase that run, however, in the top of the sixth. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch pushed the score to 6-1 in the visitors' favor.

Milligan put up some fight in the bottom of the sixth, scoring a trio of runs to get back within striking distance. Following back-to-back singles by Gaven Jones and Kalehuawehe, Brody Melton smacked his second double of the game to push across Jones. Then, Devin Gutierrez bounced a single through the middle to chase both Kalehuawehe and Melton across, making it 6-4 for UC.

However, the Patriots immediately erased those runs, plus two additional tallies in the top of the seventh. A two-run single, a RBI double, a sac fly, and a run-scoring single made it 11-4.

The Buffaloes failed to score in the bottom of the seventh, leading to a 11-4 loss in the opening game of the doubleheader.

Game two started in almost the exact same way that the first did, as Cumberlands scored a pair of runs on two hits and an error, plus a hit-by-pitch. They led 2-0 after the top of the first frame.

Milligan responded without delay, as they had a bunt single by Baird to start the inning, and later had a double by Kalehuawehe. Melton hit his third double of the afternoon and drove in Baird to make it 2-1. A fielder's choice followed with runners at second and third, on which the throw to the plate was not in time, allowing Miller Spence—the courtesy runner for Kalehuawehe—to score. With a tie score at 2-2, another fielder's choice off the bat of Nick Iezzi with the bases loaded resulted in all runners being safe and Melton crossing the plate. Lastly, a sac fly by Josh Lail plated Gutierrez to make it 4-2.

The Buffs then had an even more impressive bottom of the second, scoring six times on four hits during the frame. The first three batters of the inning reached base, and the third hitter—Kalehuawehe—drove in a run with a single to left field. Baird crossed the plate to make it 5-2. Landon Lutterman then stepped up with the bases loaded and delivered a two-RBI single into right field to make it 7-2, scoring both Jones and Spence. Then, following a pitching change, Iezzi unloaded on a pitch and sent it out of the yard beyond the right-center field fence to break it open with a three-run shot. It was 10-2 after two full.

Even more damage was done by MU in the bottom of the third, as a leadoff single and subsequent error put Baird at second to start the inning. Then, Jones doubled down the left-field line to drive home Baird, making it 11-2. A Kalehuawehe single down the right-field line added one more tally, pushing the lead to 12-2. Melton then hit his fourth double of the afternoon to chase Spence home and Gutierrez singled home Melton, giving the Buffaloes a 14-2 lead after just three innings.

The next runs of the game would be scored on a two-run homer by the Patriots in the top of the fifth inning, as the Milligan lead shrunk to 10 runs at 14-4.

A final insurance tally was added by the Buffs in the bottom of the sixth, as a RBI groundout by Kalehuawehe scored Baird to give MU a 11-run lead, 15-4. That is where the score would stay, as Milligan held the Pats in the final frame for a big ranked victory.

A grand total of 25 hits were tallied by the Buffaloes' offense across 13 offensive innings, as Jones (5-for-9, 2 2B, RBI, 3 R) and Kalehuawehe (5-for-9, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R) led the team with five hits apiece. Melton had four hits, all doubles, and drove in three runs while scoring three himself. Gutierrez totaled three hits in six at-bats and drove in a team-best four runs for the afternoon. Baird had a perfect 3-for-3 game two, going 3-for 7 overall with four runs scored and a pair of walks. Iezzi ended up with a two-hit day on seven at-bats, including the three-run shot. Quintero, Wyatt Heidle and Lutterman all had one hit on the day.

Sai Vickers began the day on the hill for the Buffaloes, tossing two innings of four-run ball. He gave up four hits in his stead. Brycen Denton was solid in relief, allowing only one earned run on two hits with three strikeouts and three walks across three frames. Conner Hendrix pitched 0.2 innings and allowed an unearned run with a pair of walks afforded to the Patriots. Cole Wessel (IP, 5 ER, 4 H) and Andrew Dingus (0.1 IP, H) closed out the tilt.

Cainan Meyers had a strong performance as the starter in game two, as the sophomore allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out six UC batters during that time. He was credited with the win to move to 1-0 for the season. Tucker Webb pitched about as perfectly as possible in the remaining 2.2 innings, allowing zero hits and striking out seven of the eight hitters that he retired.

Next up for Milligan (19-5, 9-3 AAC) will be another Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series against the Reinhardt University (Ga.) Eagles. Game one of the series is set to be played on Friday, March 13 at 4 p.m. in Waleska, Ga.