Pitching Sparkles in (RV) Buffs Baseball's Shutout Wins against WVU Tech and IWU

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – Milligan University's (RV) baseball squad allowed just eight hits across 14 innings in their 7-0 and 2-0 victories over WVU Tech and Indiana Wesleyan on Friday at Anglin Field as part of the Clash of Conferences event, hosted in tandem by the Buffs and Visit Kingsport.

After a scoreless first inning-and-a-half of MU's tilt with the WVU Tech Golden Bears, Wyatt Heidle hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the bottom of the second to begin the scoring for the Buffaloes. Cade Kalehuawehe scored on the play.

In the follwing inning, Kalehuawehe beat out an infield single and drove home Braxton Baird to make it 2-0. Then, Nick Iezzi had a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Bryce Safferwich, making it 3-0.

After a pair of scoreless frames, Safferwich reemerged with a solo homer down the left-field line, extending the Buffs' lead to 4-0 with just two innings left to play.

The Buffaloes would do nothing but grow the edge in the bottom of the sixth, as a two-run single by Safferwich, followed by him reaching third and scoring on a wild pitch; resulted in a 7-0 final tally in Milligan's triumph over WVU Tech.

It was the definition of a pitcher's duel in the second game of the day against the Indiana Wesleyan University Wildcats. The teams combined for nine hits, but Milligan was the only squad able to put up any runs.

In the bottom of the second, Tank Hansen hit an RBI single to bring home Gaven Jones, giving the Buffales an early 1-0 lead.

That advantage would be doubled in the bottom of the fourth when Brody Melton drove a sacrifice fly to center field to send Miller Spence home, making it 2-0.

There was not a ton going on offensively, but Safferwich (2-for-7, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R) stood out. Baird (2-for-6, 2B, 2 R) also had multiple hits for Milligan, as did Kalehuawehe (2-for-5, R, 2 BB).

Jacob Bishop put forth another stellar outing as the Buffaloes' starter on the bump against the Golden Bears. He tossed 4.1 innings and allowed only two hits while racking up six strikeouts. He earned his first win of the season in the effort. Austin Maxey came in after Bishop, providing 2.2 no-hit innings with five punchouts.

Canyon Geren then supplied a six-inning gem, allowing just five hits and striking out seven men. He also earned a victory as the starting pitcher for the Buffs. Jacob Poe earned his first save of the campaign with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh and just one hit surrendered.

Milligan will play a pair of matchups tomorrow, as well, as they face off with the Madonna University Crusaders at 11 a.m. and the University of Rio Grande RedStorm at 5 p.m. on Anglin Field, looking to win all four games that they participate in this weekend.