Softball splits season opener at King
An explosive first inning leading to four runs being scored was all of the scoring the Milligan College softball team needed to do in a 4-2 game one victory over NCAA Division II King Sunday afternoon. After winning game one, the Buffs fell in a close 1-0 defeat to split the doubleheader with King.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (Feb. 23, 2020) – An explosive first inning leading to four runs being scored was all of the scoring the Milligan College softball team needed to do in a 4-2 game one victory over NCAA Division II King University Sunday afternoon. After winning game one, the Buffs fell in a close 1-0 defeat to split the doubleheader with King.
The winning game
The Buffs were the home team on the board in this doubleheader and junior Lainey Mays went right to work picking up three quick outs in the top of the first to send Milligan up to bat. Savannah Nocera started the explosive inning off with a single to right field, followed by a single up the middle by Mays to score Nocera. Mays was then able to score on a Tornado error to give the Buffs a 2-0 lead.
In that same inning Kate Pendleton singled through the left side and another King error allowed Neelee Griffith who had reached base on a walk to score and allowed Pendleton to advance to third. Karsten Miller then got a hit up the middle to score Pendleton and give the Buffs an early 4-0 lead.
Mays got the start in game one and went 4.2 innings with five hits, two runs, and five strikeouts. King was able to score their two runs on two run home run in the fifth inning off Mays before Erin Forgety would come in for relief with bases loaded and get a strike out to end the inning. Forgety would get the save in game one, going 2.1 innings giving up only one hit, walking three and striking three out.
Mays went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Miller went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Pendleton and Nocera accounted for the other two hits of game one, each going 1-for-2.
Game two pitchers' duel
Forgety got the start in game two and went three scoreless innings until a solo home run in the top of the fourth gave King the lead. King's Emma Hughes got the start for game two and had a complete game shutout despite a seventh inning threat by Milligan. Cronin hit a double to left field and April Alvarado reached on a walk. Miller flew out to centerfield and both runners advanced one base, but the Buffs were unable to push the two runs across.
Forgety pitched six innings in game two, giving up five hits, one run (earned), two walks and four strikeouts.
Up next
The Buffs will be back on the road Monday, Feb. 24, for another doubleheader at Johnson University starting at 2 p.m. Milligan will return home for their home opener against Pikeville on Wednesday, Feb. 29, at 1 p.m.