JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – It wasn't the start to the season the Orange and Black had envisioned on their trip to Johnson City, Tennessee, over the weekend, as they dropped all three games, 1-2, 7-8, 3-13, to Milligan University.
 
In the season opener, the Buffalos did all the damage in the opening frame with four hits, resulting in two runs scored. Tech drew one back in the top of the second. A single off the bat of Christian Mojica sent Eli MacDonald home. The final five innings in game one of the doubleheader was a pitcher-dual as both offenses stalled. Unfortunately for the visitors, the damage was already done as Milligan held on to win 2-1.
 
The Warriors got off to a better start in game two on Friday, scoring three runs in the top of the first thanks to a double from Parker Bates and a sacrifice fly by Eli Macdonald, that scored two runs thanks to a throwing error. The Orange and Black doubled their lead in the top of the third after a Tristan Osika double scored Brice Stultz. Alex Watkins stepped in the box next for Tech, sending a ball over the fence in centerfield for a two-run home run. The hosts had an immediate response in the bottom of the third to cut the Warriors' lead to four. The Warriors added one more in the top of the sixth thanks to a single from Patrick McGinn. Milligan had more than a response in the bottom of the sixth, as they piled on six runs to grab the lead and win 8-7.
 
On Saturday, it was all Milligan, as they struck first in the bottom of the second inning, scoring two runs. The hosts followed that with a 5-run inning in the bottom of the third, putting them up by seven. The Warriors snuck one back in the top of the fourth as a double from Watkins scored Jack Ferguson, but Milligan continued their offense with another two runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The bats stayed hot for the hosts in the bottom of the fifth, adding four more runs to their tally, bringing it to 13. The Warriors added a pair of runs in the top of the last inning, but it was too little too late for the guests, falling 13-3.
 
The Warriors are back in Tennessee next weekend for their next as they travel to Lebanon to take on Cumberland University in a three-game series on Saturday and Sunday.