No. 21 Softball powers past Carolina

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 22, 2022) – The No. 21 Milligan University softball team added a pair of run-rule victories in a doubleheader sweep of Carolina on Tuesday afternoon at Anglin Field.

Despite Carolina scoring the first run in both games, Milligan would account for the rest of the offense in each contest as the Buffs won 9-1 in five innings and 10-1 in six innings. Milligan's record rises to 5-1 while Carolina falls to 3-9.

Game 1 – Milligan 9, Carolina 1 (5 inning)

Milligan scored all nine of its runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings in game one. Carolina struck first with a two-out RBI single to give the visiting Bruins a 1-0 lead.

Carolina threatened again in the third inning as a two-out single was followed by an error that put runners on first and third. When the runner on first took off for second, catcher Hanna Taylor threw down to third base to pick off the runner and end the inning.

Taylor led off the bottom of the third with a double to the center field wall. She advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a base hit off the bat of Grace Jones. After Jones, Katie Cronin blasted triple to deep center field to give Milligan a 2-1 edge.

Cronin came home on a sacrifice fly by Kate Pendleton and Neelee Griffith doubled home April Alvarado to give the Buffs a 4-1 advantage going into the fourth inning.

The Bruins put runners in scoring position again in the top of the fourth as Carolina had runners on second and third with two outs. Pitcher Erin Forgety ended the threat with a punchout.

McCoy Hensley walked and stole second to open the home half of the fourth inning. Taylor brought her home with a single into center field. Pinch runner Hadley York scored on Cronin's RBI single through the right side to bring Milligan's lead to 6-1.

In the sixth, Bailey Cantrell knocked a two-run double down the left field line and scored the game's final run on a groundout off the bat of Taylor.

Forgety was the winning pitcher as she allowed one run on five hits to pick up her second win of the season. She posted five strikeouts to two walks.

Six different Buffs drove in runs as Cronin, Cantrell and Taylor had two RBI apiece.

Game 2 – Milligan 10, Carolina 1 (6 innings)

Carolina loaded the bases with nobody out to begin the top of the second inning of game two. The Bruins strung together a single, bunt single and hit batswoman all without recording an out. Starting pitcher Cloee-Anna Merritt gave up one run as she got a force at the plate, RBI groundout and strikeout to end the inning.

Katie Cronin rapped a two-out single to center field to score pinch runner Hadley York in the bottom of the third to tie the game at one. With runners on first and second, Cantrell ripped a line drive, but it was snagged out of the air by the Bruins' shortstop for the third out of the inning.

After a one-two-three top half of the fourth inning, Milligan loaded the bases via walks in the home half of the frame. Allee Griffith stepped to the plate with two outs and cranked a grand slam over the left field fence to give the Buffs a 5-1 lead.

Merritt added two more strikeouts in the top of the fifth and Shounta Coffey scored Cantrell to increase Milligan's edge to 6-1 in the bottom of the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, A. Griffith led off the inning with a bunt single. She scored on a triple to right center by Jones, who was driven in on a double to deep center field by Cronin. Cantrell ended the game with a home run down the left field line to give Milligan a 10-1 victory.

Merritt picked up her third win of the season as she allowed one earned run and five hits. She posted five strikeouts to no walks. Kendyl McCollister worked a scoreless sixth inning.

Cronin went 3-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored. Griffith was 2-3 with four RBI, two runs and her first career home run. Cantrell hit her second career home run as she finished 2-4 with two RBI and two runs.

Milligan returns to action March 3 when it opens Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play against Montreat at 4:00 p.m.