Chamblee Plays Havoc With Milligan In Series Opener

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For the sixth time this season, Bryan College baseball’s ace Stephen Chamblee turned in a double-digit strikeout performance helping the Lions capture an 8-2 victory in the first contest of a three-game series with fellow Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Milligan College.(Photo;BryanAthletics)

Chamblee hits double strikeouts for sixth time

March 2018

DAYTON, Tenn. – For the sixth time this season, Bryan College baseball’s ace Stephen Chamblee turned in a double-digit strikeout performance helping the Lions capture an 8-2 victory in the first contest of a three-game series with fellow Appalachian Athletic Conference opponent Milligan College (Tenn.). After 13 strikeouts on Friday evening, 97 total collected this year, Chamblee was awarded the win and improved his record to 7-0 while aiding in Bryan’s overall record in moving to 28-5 and conference record to 12-1. Through 63 innings, Chamblee owns an impressive 2.14 ERA.

Milligan was the first to go on the attack when their first batter of the day, Chris Patterson, launched a solo shot over the left field fence on a 1-2 count for a quick 1-0 lead.

Despite the quick answer by the Buffaloes, Milligan’s lead would only last a moment when the Lions responded in the bottom of the frame to gain an advantage that wasn’t surrendered the rest of the game. Wade Weinburger began the rally by reaching on a walk. He was able to advance to second on a single punched up the middle by Fernando Garcia. Weinburger and Garcia put their speed on display when Lake Burris and Trevor Behrent followed with back-to-back RBI singles that propelled Bryan in front 2-1.

The offense slowed for each side until the bottom of the fourth when Burris added an insurance run via homerun as he registered number 10 on the year to extend the Lion’s lead to 3-1.

Milligan countered in the top of the fifth, but the lone run in the frame for the Buffaloes would end up being their final score of the outing. It came when Milligan got runners on the corners and produced an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Buffaloes were unable to carry their momentum into the sixth when Chamblee faced three batters and retired each of them with a strikeout. After watching the pitcher take care of business, his fellow teammates helped post another run in the bottom of the stanza when Behrent doubled and Cody Young trailed with an RBI single that scored Behrent to grow the gap to 4-2.

The seventh inning came and went with neither side building onto their score, which put the pressure on the visiting Buffaloes as time was running out for a chance at a comeback. As the top of the eighth unfolded, it looked like Chamblee had hit a wall when two singles and a successful bunt loaded the bases with no outs. With the odds stacked against him, instead of caving in Chamblee rallied behind the confidence his dugout had for him. On the next pitch, he made the batter miss and the rest was history. A trio of Buffaloes in the heart of Milligan’s lineup went head-to-head and each individual met the same fate. All three were victims of strikeouts, and on the final strike hurled by Chamblee the Lions met their go-to guy as he saw his last action of the game.

As the bottom of the eighth got underway, the energized Lions ended all hopes of the Buffaloes with a four-spot. Burris was the first Bryan player to get on in the inning when he reached first on a passed ball that would have been strike number three. Damon Haskett took over running duties at first and advanced to second when Behrent was walked. Young loaded the bases with a single, turning the tables on Milligan just as they had done in the top of the frame. David Scoggins yielded the big hit for Bryan as he singled and scored both Haskett and Behrent. Prentice Young, who was pinch running for Young, advanced to third with a brief stop before going home on a wild throw. The Buffaloes then attempted to get the out at home, but during the play Scoggins was able to reach second and continue to third. Anthony Tejeda was pinch running for Scoggins and notched the last run when he sped home on a wild pitch to seal an 8-2 victory.

Over eight innings, Chamblee gave up 11 hits and a pair of runs while walking two and striking out 13. Dalton Ross closed the final frame and ended with a clean sheet plus a strikeout.

Burris, Behrent, Young, and Tyler Scott each tallied two hits apiece to lead the team, while Burris matched Scoggins for a team-high two RBI’s. Burris hit Bryan’s lone homer, and Behrent doubled for the team’s only other extra-base hit. The two runs scored by Behrent were a team-best. Rodney Tennie, Garcia, and Scoggins collected one hit, respectively.

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