MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Milligan University baseball team hosted Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Spartanburg Methodist Pioneers on a brisk Tuesday afternoon at Anglin Field. The Buffs were able to secure a victory in the mid-week matchup after stellar pitching allowed only three hits and a five-run sixth inning broke the game open. The final score was 7-0 in favor of Milligan.

Following a three up, three down inning from the Pioneers, Milligan struck first in the bottom of the opening frame. Gaven Jones doubled to the right-center gap, and Cade Kalehuawehe brought him home with a single up the middle.

The Buffs continued their offensive success and added a run in the second to take a 2-0 lead. Reagan Smith led off with a double and moved to third on a Gaven Jones groundball. Braxton Baird then continued his hot hitting with an RBI single to score Smith.

Both sides struggled on offense over the next four innings, as the game turned into a pitching duel. Milligan mustered only three hits during the stretch, while Spartanburg Methodist went hitless.
SMC got their second hit of the game in the top of the sixth, but stellar defensive plays from MU kept momentum in their favor. Following the base knock, Brody Melton made a play on a line drive to right field, and Meyers succeeded on a pickoff to first base. Then, Meyers sawed off the next Pioneer batter and Milligan avoided any damage after the leadoff hit.

In the bottom of the sixth, Milligan broke the game open with a five-run inning to grow their advantage to 7-0. Nick Iezzi hit a sharp line drive to get aboard in the leadoff spot, and Reagan Smith reached on a defensive miscue by the Pioneer third baseman. With two outs, Baird drew a four-pitch walk, which loaded the bases for Gaven Jones. Then, in an unusual sequence of events, Jones produced a weak ground ball to the first baseman but legged out an infield single. An errant throw home attempting to get Smith allowed Baird to score from first, and Jones advanced to second on the play. On the next pitch, Kalehuawehe drove a fastball over the left field wall to plate the fourth and fifth runs of the inning.

Neither side would push another run across, and following a one-hit ninth inning from the Pioneers, the Buffs secured a 7-0 victory.

Offensively, Kalehuawehe (2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, R) led the way with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Jones (2-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, 2 R) and Landon Lutterman (2-for-4) were the only other Buffs with multiple hits. Baird went 1-for-3 with an RBI and two walks, while Smith went 1-for-4 but scored twice. Iezzi, Heidle and Quintero each added one hit. Heidle's lone knock was a double.

On the mound, Meyers (W, 2-0) dominated with seven innings of shutout work, allowing just two hits while striking out four without issuing a walk. Vickers followed with a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one, and Devin Gutierrez closed it out in the ninth, recording two strikeouts.
 
Next up for Milligan (22-6, 11-6 AAC) will be three-game series at home on Anglin Field starting with a game on Friday, March 20. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.