Buffs win one, lose one against Columbia (S.C.)

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 19, 2022) – The No. 20 Milligan University softball team earned a 9-0 run rule victory and dropped a 6-2 decision to Columbia (S.C.) in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader at Anglin Field on Saturday afternoon.

Milligan moves to 14-6 and 9-4 in AAC play. Columbia now stands at 10-7, 4-5 AAC.

Game 1 – Milligan 9, Columbia 0 (5 innings)

Columbia threatened to score in the top of the first as the Koalas put runners on first and second with a double and walk with one out. Milligan pitcher Erin Forgety responded with a strikeout and fly out to right to end the inning.

The game remained scoreless until the home half of the third inning. Stephanie Steele doubled, Caitlin Mays walked and Katie Cronin singled to load the bases with nobody out. After a force plate at the plate, all three runners scored on a pair of throwing errors by the Koalas.

Milligan's 3-0 edge grew to 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth. Bailey Cantrell smacked a leadoff double and came around to score on a throwing error when she was attempted to steal third base. Kate Pendleton ripped a two-run double and McCoy Henlsey smacked a two-run single. Hensley scored on a single and bobbled ball in right field off the bat of April Alvarado.

The Koalas down in order in the fifth as the Buffs took the 9-0 run-rule victory.

Forgety tossed a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and one walk. Cronin and Hensley had multi-hit games. Cronin scored twice and Hensley drove in a pair. Pendleton, Cantrell and Steele each had a double in win.

Game 2 – Columbia 6, Milligan 2

The Buffs struck first in the bottom of the second inning in game two. Hanna Taylor led off the inning with a single and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Cantrell brought her home with an RBI double to give Milligan a 1-0 lead.

Columbia used small ball to rally back in the top of the third. The Koalas posted three bunt singles to load the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly tied the game at one and a two-run single into right field gave the visitors a 3-1 edge.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hensley and Alvarado recorded back-to-back single. Steele walked to load the bases with two outs. Hadley York hit an RBI single to bring home Hensley, but the Buff could not add any more runs and trailed 3-2 going into the fifth.

The Koalas added to their lead in the top of the fifth as two singles and two errors resulted in in a pair of runs and a 5-2 Columbia lead. Cloee-Anna Merritt stranded two Columbia runners with a strikeout and groundout to end the frame.

A hit-by-pitch and error put two runners on for the Buffs in the bottom of the sixth with two outs. A groundout ended the inning and kept the Koalas ahead by three runs.
Columbia added a run in the seventh as a leadoff double was followed by a fly out to deep center field. The throw back to the infield went awry and allowed the runner, who moved up to third, to score on the play to give the Koalas a 6-2 edge.

In the bottom of the seventh, Pendleton and Taylor singled and Alvarado walked to load the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, with two outs. A strikeout ended the game as the Koalas picked up a 6-2 victory.

Milligan stranded 11 runners in the loss. Pendleton and Taylor had two hits apiece.

The Buffs travel to Tennessee Wesleyan tomorrow for an important AAC doubleheader.