Buffs sweep home opener

Milligan College, Tenn. (Feb. 14, 2008) --- The Milligan College men's baseball team swept their first home games of the year against Virginia Intermont in non-conference action Thursday afternoon.

The Buffs won the first game of the day by a decision of 7-3. Freshman Keith Fenner (Chilhowie, Va.) started out on the hill for the Buffs. Fenner was an out short of throwing six innings, as he gave up six hits and two earned runs, while having struck out three and only walked one batter. Sophomore Todd Caldwell (Johnson City, Tenn.) recorded the save in one and two third innings. At the plate, junior Brian Busby (Lexington, S.C.), junior Jeremy Hazen (Anderson, Ind.), and sophomore Ricky Morgan (Johnson City, Tenn.) all went 2-3 in the first game, crossed the plate once, and all brought in a run.

The Buffs finished the sweep with sophomore Frank Newcombe (Knoxville, Tenn.) on the mound in the second game. Milligan won the second game 8-2, with Newcombe on the mound for five and two thirds of an inning. Newcombe scattered three hits and gave up two unearned runs. He retired 17 batters, while having struck out four and only walked three. Caldwell tallied another save in the second game for the Buffs. Sophomore Dallas Crouch (Jefferson City, Tenn.) led the Buffs on offense, as he went 2-4. Crouch brought in two runs, and crossed the plate once. Morgan also went 2-4 in the second game, and crossed the plate twice.

“We threw the ball well and our defense was strong,” said Milligan College Head Coach Nathan Meade. “When you have two of the three phases of the game working for you like we did it is a good day. Fenner and Newcombe threw the ball really well and gave us a chance to win both games. We want to take these two and keep building and improving.”

The Buffs host Urbana University Saturday, Feb. 16, at Anglin Field for a double header. The first game is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.