Pioneers Split Midweek Doubleheader with Milligan
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Milligan (TN) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
|
Spartanburg Methodist | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Milligan (TN) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 2 |
|
Spartanburg Methodist | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In a non-conference midweek matchup with fellow Appalachian Athletic Conference member Milligan, the Spartanburg Methodist College baseball team split a doubleheader Tuesday at Mooneyham Field.
The Pioneers (7-10) claimed game one in dramatic fashion, 5-4, before the Buffs responded with an 11-6 win in game two to earn the split. SMC jumped out to an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the first inning and held the advantage until Milligan used a four-run fourth to move ahead, 4-3. The Pioneers answered to tie the game at 4-4 when Tanner Martin delivered a one-out double to score Trey Wendell from second base.
With the game still tied in the bottom of the seventh, Matt Smith lifted a 2-2 pitch over the left-field fence for a walk-off home run, sealing the victory for SMC.
Martin paced the Pioneers' seven-hit attack with three hits. Reliever JC Murphy, one of five SMC pitchers used in the contest, earned his first win of the season after tossing 2.1 innings of one-hit relief.
For Milligan, Gaven Jones recorded two of the Buffs' five hits, while Cole Wessel took the loss after pitching the final two innings to fall to 1-1. Both teams finished with nine hits in the nightcap, but Milligan capitalized on key scoring innings to secure the win.
The Buffs scored three runs in both the first and sixth innings and added two runs in the fourth and fifth. SMC countered with single runs in the first and third innings and plated two runs in both the fourth and fifth frames. The Pioneers cut the deficit to two runs twice, including in the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Bryce Satterwhite. However, Milligan responded in the sixth with its third home run of the game — a three-run shot by Josh Lail — to create the final margin.
Jones added two more hits to lead the Buffs, while Dario Astudillo and Martin each collected two hits for SMC.
The Pioneers will hit the road for five consecutive games beginning with a three-game series at UPIKE starting Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m., followed by a doubleheader Saturday, March 7 at noon. SMC then travels to Winston-Salem, N.C., for a doubleheader on Tuesday, March 10 at 2 p.m.
