No. 21 Softball opens 2022 with doubleheader sweep against Alice Lloyd

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 9, 2022) – The No. 21 Milligan University softball team slugged its way to a doubleheader sweep of Alice Llyod at Anglin Softball Field on opening day.

Milligan starts its season 2-0 while Alice Llyod begins 0-2.

Game 1 – Milligan 15, Alice Lloyd 2 (5 innings)

Milligan opened the 2022 season with a run rule victory over Alice Lloyd. Starting pitcher Erin Forgety allowed just one hit in four innings of work with no walks and four strikeouts.

Milligan's offensive output included 15 hits from 10 different players on the day and the Buffs took advantage of seven ALC errors to score seven unearned runs.

The Buffs led 6-0 after two innings and brought home six more runs in the third and three in the fourth to lead 15-0 before the Eagles brought home a pair of runs in the fifth.

At the top of the Milligan lineup, Grace Jones was 3-3 with four runs scored, two stolen bases and an RBI. Katie Cronin went 3-4 with three RBI, three runs, a double and stolen base. Bailey Cantrell joined Cronin with three RBI and Neelee Griffith drove in two runs. McCoy Hensley and Alexis Brown scored two runs apiece.

Kendyl McCollister worked the fifth inning as the Buffs secured the run rule victory.

Game 2 – Milligan 8, Alice Lloyd 0 (5 innings0

After the offensive fireworks in game one, neither team scored despite putting at least runner on base through the first two-and-a-half innings. Milligan starter Cloee-Anna Merritt stranded an Alice Llyod runner at first in the first inning, at second in the second inning and at third in the third inning to keep the ballgame scoreless.

The Buffs broke through with eight runs on nine hits in third inning. Cronin smacked a double down the left field line to plate Jones. Kate Pendleton drove in Cronin with an RBI single to right. Griffith's sacrifice fly scored Cantrell. Pendleton came home on Shounta Coffey's bunt single. Coffey came around to score on Hensley's RBI double. Allee Griffith's lineout to center was deep enough for April Alvarado to scamper home. Jones and Cantrell both drove in runs with RBI singles to round out the scoring in the inning.

Merritt sat down ALC in order in the fourth and fifth innings to secure the shortened 8-0 win.

Milligan returns to action Feb. 20 at the University of the Cumberland's Tournament.