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Buffs drop AAC opener to King
Ben Davis KINGSPORT -- The Buffs dropped their opening round game of the Appalachian Athletic Conference baseball tournament against King College on Wednesday afternoon at Hunter Wright Stadium in Kingport. Milligan made several great defensive plays throughout the game, but ironically it was two crucial errors that helped the Tornado grab an 8-2 win. "A day like today in a tournament, you never know what is going to happen. We battled early, but we had a couple things go wrong and we just kind of rolled over," said Milligan coach Nathan Meade. "You've got to play even keel the whole time. You've got to be consistent. "We will be alright," Coach Meade added. "We're going to pick it and we're going to come back tomorrow and go right back at it." After playing to a 1-1 tie through three innings, King scored three more runs over the next two stanzas that all came by way of Milligan's two errors. In the bottom of the fourth, Buffs centerfielder Danny Bacon bobbled a single by Drew Trujillo which allowed former Elizabethton High School standout Ryan Kennedy to score from first base. Bacon had made one of the best plays of the game in the top of the first with a diving catch that he turned into a double play by throwing out King's leadoff hitter Joe Craven who was trying to return to first base. In the bottom of the fifth, a catcher interference call against Milligan's Cody Cannon on a fly ball left King with the bases loaded and one out, instead of two people on and two outs. After Milligan pitcher Nathan Fritz got the next batter to fly out, Brian Cruze came up and hit a two out two RBI single to put King up 4-1. Milligan cut it to 4-2 in the sixth when Happy Valle graduate Ricky Morgan singled in Brandon Murphy, but that would be as close as the Buffs would get. King added four runs over the next three innings and Milligan never recovered. "We swung the bats and got some timely hits," said King coach Mark Conkin. "When you catch it, throw it and hit it then good things happen to you. "We are so even with Milligan. They are a tough club. Nathan (Meade) has done a tremendous job over there and (Nathan) Fritz throws extremely well. It was just our day." King pitcher Jace Smith got the win after going complete game and giving up one earned run on eleven hits while striking out nine batters and walking only one. "Jace did an outstanding job," said Coach Conkin. "He got ahead of hitters. He has helped carry us all year." Fritz took the loss for the Buffs after going six innings and giving up three unearned runs on eleven hits while fanning three batters and walking one. Murphy, Morgan, Cannon and Justin Sauceman each finished 2-4 for Milligan while Craven led King with a 4-4 effort that included two runs and two RBI. Trujillo and Craig Cant also had two hits for King. Milligan was scheduled to face the loser of the first round game between Bluefield and Montreat at 9:00 am this morning. ------
King, 8-2 Home |
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