No. 21 Buffs open conference play with sweep over Montreat 

Milligan, Tenn. (March 3, 2022) — The No. 21 Milligan University softball team opened Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play with a sweep over Montreat College in a doubleheader matchup on Thursday afternoon. The Buffs won game one by a score of 12-3 and won game two by a score of 6-3.   

The Buffs move to 7-1 (2-0 AAC) overall while Montreat falls to 1-12 (0-2 AAC). 

GAME 1: Milligan 12, Montreat 3 

The Buffs offense exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, setting themselves up with a comfortable lead for the rest of the ball game. Katie Cronin collected the first RBI for Milligan as she hit a hard ground ball that was knocked down by a diving second baseman allowing for Grace Jones to score from third base. Nelee Griffith busted the game wide open with a grand slam to left center giving the Buffs a 5-0 lead with no outs in the inning. Milligan would go on to add four more runs to their total by the end of the inning as they climbed out to a 9-0 lead after one. 

Milligan's final three runs all came with two outs in the bottom of the second. Griffith led the inning off with a base on balls before Hannah Taylor singled through the left side of the infield to give the Buffs baserunners on first and second. Following a pop out to shortstop and fly out to left field, Alexis Brown smacked an RBI double into left center scoring Milligan's first run of the inning. In the next at-bat, Grace Jones came to the plate with two runners in scoring position and took full advantage of the opportunity by lacing a two-RBI double into center field to give the Buffs a 12-0 lead after two innings. 

Montreat leadoff the top of the fourth inning with a base on balls followed by a double into left center to give the Cavaliers two runners in scoring position with no outs. A single up the middle scored the first run of the ball game for Montreat before a line drive to center and another grounder through the middle of the infield plated the second and third. The Cavaliers picked up three runs on five hits in the inning to trim the deficit to 12-3. 

Erin Forgety turned in another solid start for the Buffs as she gained her third win of the season. She pitched four and a third innings, only allowing three hits, no runs and four strikeouts. 

On the offensive side, the Buffs were lead by Griffith who went one-for-two with a grand slam and four RBIs. Jones also had a good day at the plate as she picked up one hit in four plate appearances, drew two walks, and added three RBIs. Bailey Cantrell and Hannah Taylor had two hits apiece in the contest and combined for three runs scored. Cantrell, along with Cronin, also had two RBIs in the contest. 

GAME 2: Milligan 6, Montreat 3 

In game two it was Montreat who struck first as they picked up two runs with the assistance of two Milligan errors in the first inning. The Cavalier leadoff batter got the game going with a triple down the right field line before she scored on an error in the next at bat. The second Montreat run came via a throwing error to first base which allowed the runner on second base to cross the plate. 

Milligan answered in the bottom half of the first as they scored one run on two hits. After back-to-back outs to the Cavalier infielders, Cantrell singled on a ground ball in between the shortstop and third baseman reaching first base without a throw. She then stole second base and scored on an RBI double into left center by Taylor. 

In the bottom half of the third, the Buffs added another run to tie the game at two. With no outs in the inning, Cronin picked up the RBI on a sharp, mishandled ground ball to first base which allowed for McCoy Hensley to score from third base. A pop out to the third baseman in foul territory followed by a fielder's choice and pop up to shortstop ended the inning for the Cavaliers before any more damage was done. 

Milligan took the lead for the first time in game two in the home half of the fourth inning. Following a pop up to the infield for out number one, April Alvarado gave the Buffs their first baserunner with a line-drive single into center field. Allee Griffith, in the next at bat, also singled to center field, giving Milligan runners at first and second with one out. Hensley picked up the RBI on a single into left field to score Alvarado. 

Continuing her phenomenal day at the plate, Neelee Griffith started the sixth inning off with a blast over the left-field wall for her second home run of the day. Following a fly out into left, Alvarado doubled on an in-between fly ball in which neither the shortstop, left fielder, or third baseman could get to. Allee Griffith, in the next at-bat singled on a line drive into left field to give the Buffs runners on first and third with one out. Forgety, in a pinch hit scenario, picked up an RBI on a squeeze play which allowed for Alvarado to cross the plate. An error by the Cavaliers' second baseman in the next at bat gave Milligan its third run in the inning and a 6-2 lead going into the final inning. 

Montreat picked up one run on two hits in the top of the seventh but ultimately could not get a rally going as Cloee-Anna Merritt closed out her stellar day in the circle for the Buffs. Merritt threw a complete game, allowing only one earned run in addition to striking out three while giving up no walks. 

Offensively, seven different Milligan players recorded a hit with five different Milligan players adding RBIs. As a team, the Buffs had nine hits and only struck out twice in the matchup with the Cavaliers. Alvarado and Allee Griffith each picked up two hits in a combined six at-bats and also scored three runs. 

With her two home runs, Neelee Griffith pulled even with Milligan Hall of Famer Megan Aldridge Harmon's career record of 26 home runs.  

The Buffs will be back on the diamond Friday with a conference doubleheader against Kentucky Christian University starting at 2:00 p.m.