KINGSPORT, Tenn. – WVU Tech continued its season opening road swing Tuesday at Anglin Field, taking steps forward in a non-conference doubleheader at Milligan University.
The Golden Bears held an early lead in the opener before Milligan used a late surge to pull out a 4-2 win. In game two, WVU Tech manufactured a run in the seventh inning but came up short in a 3-1 final.
Game 1
WVU Tech struck first and built a 2-0 advantage behind timely hitting and steady early pitching.
In the third, Ethan Dylan Turner singled and later scored when JJ Polvinale drove an RBI single to center to put the Golden Bears on top, 1-0. WVU Tech added another run in the fourth inning when Gabe Templeton reached and scored on Maximiliano Arroba's RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Golden Bears finished the opener with nine hits, highlighted by two-hit days from Polvinale, Cody Cooper, Turner, and Arroba, as Tech consistently put pressure on the Milligan defense.
On the mound, Tate Martino worked three scoreless innings to start the game, and WVU Tech carried the two-run cushion into the bottom of the sixth.
Milligan answered with four runs in the sixth to take the lead. The Buffaloes capitalized on traffic and a key defensive miscue, then used a pair of run-scoring hits to turn the game in their favor.
Game 2
Milligan plated two runs in the second inning and added an insurance run in the fifth to build a 3-0 lead.
WVU Tech kept the game within reach with a trio of arms. Stefan Machkovski struck out three over the first two innings, Cole Brown provided three innings of relief with just one earned run allowed and Andrew Lynch closed the final inning to keep the Golden Bears within striking distance.
Tech broke through in the seventh. Joshua Tibbits reached base and Braedan Pakkala came around to score on Jake Tompkins' pinch-hit RBI single, trimming the deficit to 3-1 and giving the Golden Bears late momentum.
Golden Bear Highlights
- Ethan Dylan Turner went 2-for-3 with a run in game one.
- JJ Polvinale had two hits in the opener, including an RBI single to open Tech's scoring.
- Maximiliano Arroba added an RBI single in game one as WVU Tech built a 2-0 lead.
- Cody Cooper finished game one with two hits as WVU Tech totaled nine hits as a team.
- Tate Martino opened game one with three scoreless innings on the mound.
- Cole Brown delivered three innings of relief in game two, allowing one earned run.
- Jake Tompkins drove in WVU Tech's lone run in game two with a pinch-hit RBI single.
What's Next
The Golden Bears continue their road stretch Friday in Marion, N.C., opening a weekend series against Fisher College.
