Buffs split at Cumberland’s Tournament
BEAR CREEK, S.C. (February 19, 2022) – The Milligan University softball team split a pair of games at the Cumberland’s Tournament in Bear Creek, S.C. with a loss to IU South Bend and a victory over Lawrence Tech. This marked the Buff’s first loss and third victory of the season so far.
BEAR CREEK, S.C. (February 19, 2022) – The Milligan University softball team split a pair of games at the Cumberland's Tournament in Bear Creek, S.C. with a loss to IU South Bend and a victory over Lawrence Tech. This marked the Buff's first loss and third victory of the season so far.
Milligan scored a combined 14 runs in the two games on Sunday afternoon.
Game 1 – IU South Bend 5, Milligan 4
After putting away IU South Bend quietly in the top half of the first, the Buff's offense came out swinging in the bottom half of the inning with Grace Jones legging out a leadoff triple. Katie Cronin then singled up the middle to plate Jones to give Milligan an early 1-0 lead. The Buffs picked up another run in the first when Bailey Cantrell singled and later scored on a ground ball to the third baseman.
Erin Forgety retired the side in the top half of the second recording a ground out, line out and pop out to sit the Titans down in order. The top half of the lineup once again came through for the Buffs as Cronin picked up her second RBI of the ballgame scoring McCoy Hensley on a single through the right side, giving Milligan a 3-0 lead through the first two innings.
Errors plagued the Buffs defense in the fourth as IU South Bend picked up two unearned runs on three miscues by Milligan. However, the Buffs got one run back in the bottom half thanks to two errors from the Titans. Cronin, after reaching base on an error by the IU South Bend center fielder, stole second and later scored on a ground out back to the pitcher giving Milligan a 4-2 lead.
IU South Bend responded in the top half of the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits and one error from the Buff's defense. A one out double to left plated two runners for the Titans to tie the game at four. IU South Bend later picked up their third run of the inning on an arid throw from Milligan giving the Titans a one run advantage heading into the bottom half of the sixth.
The Buffs threatened with one runner in scoring position and one out in the sixth but ultimately were unable to come through with a timely hit to tie the game. IU South Bend led off the top of the seventh with a single, but Forgety closed the door sitting down the next three Titan batters. Unfortunately, Milligan was unable to get anything going in the bottom half as they were retired in order, taking a tough 5-4 loss on the chin.
The top four batters in the Buffs' order combined to go 8-15, scored three runs, and picked up three RBIs.
Cronin was the primary source of offense for the Buffs as she picked up three hits in four at-bats, recorded two RBIs and also scored a run. Jones and Kate Pendleton also gave Milligan some production on the offensive side each picking up two hits with Pendleton adding an RBI.
Game 2 – Milligan 9, Lawrence Tech 0
After the first two hitters were retired for the Buffs, April Alvarado singled up the middle then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shounta Coffey reached first on a fielding error by the Lawrence Tech first baseman; scoring Alvarado to give Milligan a 1-0 lead after the top half of the first.
The Buffs picked up another run in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Caitlin Mays which plated Alvarado who reached base on a walk earlier in the inning.
Hadley York got it rolling for Milligan in the top half of the fourth with a leadoff double to right field. Stephanie Steele then scored York with a single through the left side of the infield. After a ground out advanced Hensley, courtesy running for Steele, into scoring position, Cronin smacked an RBI double into right field. Alvarado, in the next at-bat, scored Cronin with a single up the middle giving the Buffs a 5-0 advantage going into the bottom half of the fourth.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth, the Milligan offense exploded for four runs in the seventh. Alvarado, picking up her third hit of the game, led off the inning with a single into left. Wheatley York then doubled, giving Milligan two runners in scoring position with no outs. Mays drew a base on balls to load the bases in the next at-bat bringing up Alexis Brown for her first plate appearance of the day. Brown took full advantage of the opportunity with a double to right field plating both Alvarado and York. H. York picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly into right scoring Mays in the next at-bat. Jones singled to left to score Brown for the Buffs' fourth run of the inning.
Cloee-Anna Merritt shut down any hopes of a comeback from Lawrence Tech retiring the side in order to record a complete-game three-hit shutout. She also struck out five while picking up her second win on the season.
Alvarado went three-for-three with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored in the 9-0 win over the Blue Devils. Steele picked up two hits in three at-bats in addition to an RBI. Brown led the Buffs in the RBI category with two after her pinch-hit double in the sixth. As a team, Milligan recorded 11 hits in the game and played relatively clean on defense only committing one error.
The Buffs return to the diamond on Tuesday with a doubleheader vs. Carolina at 2:00 and 4:00 p.m.
