Buffs split double-header with No. 2 Lee

Milligan College, Tenn. (March 11, 2009) --- The Milligan College men's baseball team was 1-1 in their double-header against the No. 2 Lee University Flames Wednesday night.

The Buffs lost a battle of the bats in the first game, falling to Lee 8-6. The second game came down to pitching, and Milligan won out, defeating the Flames 2-1.

The score bounced back and forth throughout the first game, as both teams produced runs effectively.

Senior Brian Busby (Lexington, S.C.) was 2-4 at the plate with a home run, a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Junior Eric Oxley (Ardmore, Tenn.) hit 2-2 and contributed a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base. Senior Brandon Murphy (Johnson City, Tenn.) hit 2-3 with a single, a double, and an RBI.

Junior Todd Caldwell (Johnson City, Tenn.) was attributed the loss after pitching 5 1/3 innings.

The Buffs struck early in the second game, scoring in the first inning. The game remained at 1-0 until the fifth inning when the Flames answered, tying the game.

Moving into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Buffs' offense worked to get the win. Junior Dallas Crouch (Jefferson City, Tenn.) hit a single up the middle, followed by a walk from junior Kendall Williams (Dillon, S.C.) . The runners then advanced on a passed ball.

With one out, sophomore Wesley Jones (Kingsport, Tenn.) walked, loading the bases. Slugger Spencer Street (Johnson City, Tenn.) came up to bat, and recorded an unlikely RBI when he was hit by a pitch, forcing in the winning run.

Junior Frank Newcomb (Knoxville, Tenn.) pitched a solid 7 2/3 innings, holding the Flames to one run. Sophomore Jason Trivett (Bristol, Tenn.) closed out the eighth inning, and was awarded the save.

Jones was 1-3 at the plate with a run scored, while Crouch was 2-2 at the plate with a run scored.

“We swung the bat well,” said Head Coach Nathan Meade . “Lee is a solid team, and they capitalized on our defensive mistakes early in the first game. But Frank and our other pitchers really gave us a chance to win in the second game.”

The Buffs will battle Bluefield College at home Saturday, March 14, in a conference matchup. The double-header is set to begin at 2 p.m.