Softball drops doubleheader in AAC opener
Despite a late game lead in the first game and an early lead in the second, the Milligan College softball team fell to Columbia International University 5-4 and 5-1 in their Appalachian Athletic Conference opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 7, 2020) – Despite a late game lead in the first game and an early lead in the second, the Milligan College softball team fell to Columbia International University 5-4 and 5-1 in their Appalachian Athletic Conference opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
Game one
Despite Milligan getting a runner on base in the first three innings, CIU was able to get on the board first in the bottom of the third with Robyn Andrews starting the inning off by getting on base, followed by the Rams having back to back hits to score her. That was all the damage CIU would do in the third inning despite having runners on second and third to end the inning.
Milligan answered back in the top of the fifth with Lindsey Slagle leading things off with an infield single before Grace Jones reached on a bunt. With Slagle on second and Jones on first, Savannah Nocera laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to third and second. April Alvarado came up with two out and was able to get a hit to score both Slagle and Jones and give Milligan a 2-1 lead. Kate Pendleton followed Alvarado and hit a double to left field to score Alvarado and add a run to Milligan's lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Milligan fielding errors would allow CIU to get two runs back to tie the game up 3-3. It would not be until the top of the seventh that Milligan would retake the lead when Nocera scored off of a CIU error. Milligan entered the bottom of the seventh with a 4-3 lead, but a leadoff hit, then a Milligan error would give CIU the tying and winning run on base. Kendyl McCollister came in for relief and was able to get a ground ball to Jones at second who threw the runner out at home, followed by Lainey Mays coming in to get the second out via strikeout, but CIU was able to get a hit to score two runs and end the game on a walk-off.
Erin Forgety suffered the loss in game one, going six innings giving up seven hits, three runs (one earned) and striking out seven. Alvarado went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Pendleton went 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
Game two
In attempts to split the doubleheader, Milligan took an early lead in the top of the second, off of two CIU errors. Morgan Overholser started the inning off by reaching on a CIU fielding error, before scoring on a CIU wild throw.
That was all the scoring Milligan would do as CIU would go on to score two runs in the third inning and three in the fourth inning. Despite having runners on base in the fourth and sixth innings, Milligan was not able to make a comeback.
Pendleton and Mays each went 1-for-3, Karsten Miller went 1-for-2 and Slagle went 1-for-4. Mays threw the entire second game for the Buffs and suffered the loss, giving up 10 hits, five runs (all earned), one walk and striking out five.
Up next
Milligan will stay in Columbia, South Carolina, for their next two AAC doubleheaders and play against Columbia College on Sunday, March 8, and Allen University on Monday, March 9.