LEBANON, Tenn. –  The (RV) Milligan University baseball program put their six-game win streak on the line in the second matchup of the year against non-conference opponent Cumberland (Tenn.) University on Tuesday afternoon. In the previous contest at Anglin Field, the Buffs came from behind and won in walk-off fashion. This time around, the Buffs traveled to Lebanon, Tenn., and took control of the game early to capture a 17-2 victory that was never in doubt, extending their win streak to seven.

Milligan jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the opening frame behind a Braxton Baird leadoff hit-by-pitch, a Cade Kalehuawehe single to shallow left field and a three-run blast off the bat of Brody Melton.

The Buffs' bats continued to produce in the next inning, as a Luis Quintero hit-by-pitch followed by base hits from Nick Moss and Baird led to two runs. Baird's single to right field resulted in both RBI in the inning, scoring both Quintero and Moss.

Milligan broke the game open by scoring runs for the third consecutive inning, as six runs extended the Buffs' advantage to 11-0. Kalehuawehe started the inning with his second base hit of the afternoon, and Melton capitalized by showing off his power at the dish with a two-run shot to right field. With two outs, Quintero and Nick Iezzi provided base knocks and Moss followed with a walk. Iezzi scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch, and Baird cleared the bases by joining Melton in the home run club with a three-run dinger to extend the Buffs' lead to 11-0.

After a quiet fourth inning, Milligan added three more runs in the fifth to take a 14-run advantage. Iezzi led off with a double and Quintero brought him in with a single in the next at-bat. Then, following a Baird hit to put runners at the corners, Gaven Jones doubled to deep right-center, scoring Quintero to make it a 13-0 ballgame. Kalehuawehe hit a sacrifice fly to score Baird from third following Jones' double to put Milligan comfortably in the driver's seat, 14-0.

The Phoenix got on the board with a two-run homer in the fifth inning, but it proved to be too little too late, as this would be the only offense of the game for Cumberland.
The final three runs of the game came courtesy of MU in the sixth inning. Christian Pawl came to bat as a pinch hitter and launched a deep fly over the left-field wall with Miller Spence on base for the first two runs. Finally, Bryce Burkey smacked an RBI double down the left-field line to score Quintero to reach the final score of 17-2, as neither side scored in the seventh and final inning.

Baird (3-for-3, HR, 5 RBI, 3 R, HBP) and Melton (2-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 R) were the offensive stars for the Buffs. Quintero had a huge day despite only two official at-bats, going 2-for-2 with four runs scored and two hit-by-pitches. Jones (2-for-4, 2B, RBI), Kalehuawehe (2-for-4, R, RBI, SF) and Iezzi (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R) all added two hits apiece. Moss (1-for-2, 2 R, BB, SB), Pawl (1-for-1, HR, 2 RBI, R) and Burkey (1-for-1, 2B, RBI) rounded out the list of Buffs with hits.

Milligan went to two arms on the bump, with Cainan Meyers starting the contest with six full innings of work. He allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters to earn the win and move to 3-0 on the season. Jake Brune relieved him with one scoreless inning, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out one.
 
Next up for the Buffaloes (26-6, 14-4 AAC) will be a three-game non-conference series against Union Commonwealth University. The series will start with a game in Barbourville, Ky. on Friday, March 27 before a doubleheader at Anglin Field on Saturday, March 28. First pitch for Friday is set for 1 p.m.