Softball opens 2024 campaign at NAIA Leadoff Classic

COLUMBUS, Ga. (February 16, 2024) – The Milligan University softball team opened its 2024 season at the NAIA Leadoff Classic in Georgia on Friday. The Buffs fell to Jessup 7-4 and Campbellsville 6-1.

Game 1 – Jessup 7, Milligan 4

The Buffs took an early 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two innings. Alana Parson singled home Morgan Lawson in the first and Haley Virgil scored on a wild pitch in the second.

The Warriors tied the game at two in the bottom of the third with a two-out two-run double in the third. Jessup took the lead with a pair of home runs in the fifth to lead 5-2.

Stephanie Steele had a pinch hit single in the fifth to score Mia Grassee but a baserunner was thrown out after the run scored to end the inning with the Buffs trailing 5-3. Lawson drove in Layney Loyd in the sixth but the inning ended as another baserunner was thrown out on the play.

Jessup added two more runs in the top of the seventh to extend its lead to the final score of 7-4.

Grassee and Parsons had two hits each. Maggie Johnson hit a triple and Grassee had a double.

Katelin Secrist went 6.2 innings in the circle and allowed five runs on 12 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.

Game 2 – (RV) Campbellsville 6, Milligan 1

Campbellsville led 3-0 after three innings and took a 5-0 lead in the top of the fifth.

Despite not having a baserunner in each of the first three innings, Milligan had multiple runners on in the fourth and fifth innings. Bree Presnell knocked in Haley Vigil with an RBI single to plate the Buffs' only run.

Presnell threw a complete game and had the lone RBI of the contest.

The Buffs take on Calumet and No. 12 Mobile Saturday at the NAIA Leadoff Classic.