Buffs sweep Covenant; earn 37th win

Milligan College, Tenn. (April 25, 2009) --- The Milligan College men's baseball team (37-16, 17-9) took two games from Covenant College Saturday in a double-header at Anglin Field, sweeping the weekend series.

The Buffs defeated the Scots 6-2 in the first game, then shut down Covenant in a six-inning 16-6 blowout that ended early due to the run rule.

Senior Michael Dillow (Gray, Tenn.) started the first game and earned the win, pitching 4 1/3 scoreless innings, scattering five hits. For the season, Dillow has a 1.88 ERA.

The Buffs broke out offensively in the second inning, scoring four runs. Senior Brian Busby (Lexington, S.C.) was 2-4 at the plate, while junior Todd Caldwell (Johnson City, Tenn.) and senior Brandon Murphy (Johnson City, Tenn.) both hit 2-3.

Junior Mike Gallo (Peabody, Mass.) earned the win in the second game, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings in the middle of the game. He allowed two hits. However, pitching was a group effort in this game, with junior Frank Newcomb (Knoxville, Tenn.) starting and juniors Shawn Ray (York, S.C.) and Aaron Dorriety (Pickens, S.C.) also contributing.

Offense was scattered throughout the game, but the Buffs broke out of a 6-6 tie in the fifth inning, scoring nine runs. When the sixteenth run was scored in the sixth inning, officials stopped the game.

Junior Dallas Crouch (Jefferson City, Tenn.) led the Buffs at the plate, batting 3-3 with a solo home run in the third inning and two doubles. Junior Randy Rabon (Rock Hill, S.C.) was 2-3 at the plate with a solo home run in the second inning. Caldwell and Murphy each batted 2-3.

“I'm proud of our guys,” said Head Coach Nathan Meade . “These guys worked hard all year, and they deserve to have that thirty-seventh win. It was a joint effort today. Everybody did their part.”

The Buffs face Bluefield College Monday, April 27, at home. The game will complete the Buffs' conference play. The time has not yet been scheduled.