Softball earns key AAC sweep over Reinhardt

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (March 26, 2022) – The Milligan University softball team defeated Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) foe Reinhardt 6-2 and 2-1 at Anglin Field on Saturday.

The victories marked Milligan's first sweep since March 8 against Johnson (Tenn.). The Buffs rise to Milligan 18-7 overall and 11-5 in AAC play. Reinhardt falls to 15-10, 5-3 AAC

Game 1 – Milligan 6, Reinhardt 2

Milligan starter Erin Forgety sat down the first seven Reinhardt batters she faced with four strikeouts. The Eagles logged their first hit of the day in the top of the third but Forgety fanned the next batter and ended the inning with a ground out to short.

After stranding three runners in the first two innings, Milligan scored the game's first run in the bottom of the third. Grace Jones doubled into left and was driven in on a two-out double down the left field line by Kate Pendleton to give the Buffs a 1-0 lead.

Reinhardt struck back in the top of the fourth. A leadoff single was followed by back-to-back one-out doubles that gave the visitors a 2-1 edge.

The Buffs tied the game at two with three-straight base hits by Caitlin Mays, Jones and Katie Cronin. A sacrifice bunt attempt by April Alvarado with runners on first and second led to another run when the throw to first base was off the mark. Hanna Taylor came through with a two-run single to bring home Alvarado and Cronin and grow the Buffs' lead to 5-2.

The Buffs used three walks and an RBI double by Cronin to tack on a run in the sixth to extend their advantage to 6-2 going into the seventh.

Forgety posted three strikeouts in the seventh to clinch the game one victory. Forgety earned her 10th win of the season with a complete-game, two-run six-hit effort with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Jones and Cronin had two hits apiece. Cronin and Taylor each drove in a pair.

Game 2 – Milligan 2, Reinhardt 1

The Buffs opened game two with a pair of runs in the first inning. Jones reached on a booted ball in the field, Cronin singled and Alvardo brought Jones home with a base hit. Cronin came home on a grounder to second by Taylor.

After a one out walk in the top of the second inning, a 1-6-3 double play ended the frame as Cloee-Anna Merritt tossed to Alvarado, who fired over to first to end the inning.

Consecutive two-out singles and a walk loaded the bases for Reinhardt in the top of the third. A single through the right side brought home one run, but McCoy Hensley's gunned down a second Eagle attempting to score on the play to end the inning with the Buffs ahead 2-1.

A Pendleton walk was followed by a two-out double by Taylor to put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the third. Pinch hitter Alexis Brown's fly ball into right field was tracked down to end the inning.

Bailey Cantrell led off the home half of the fourth with a base hit into left field. She stole second base and advanced to third on a ground out. However a pop out and ground out left her stranded 60 feed away.

A single, stolen base and ground out put a runner on third with two outs for Reinhardt in the top of the fifth. Merritt got Reinhardt's Emily Loveless to pop out to Taylor to end the inning and preserve the Buffs' 2-1 edge.

The ball never left the infield in the top of the sixth as the Eagles grounded back to the pitcher, to first base and Merritt rung up the final batter after a lengthy at-bat.

Neelee Griffith and Hensley singled to place runners on first and second with two outs in the home half of the sixth, but a ground out ended the inning.

Cronin tracked down a pair of fly balls down in left field in the seventh as Merritt sat the Eagles down 1-2-3 to secure the one-run victory.

Merritt earned the complete game win after giving up just one earned run and five hits on the day. Cronin had two of Milligan's seven hits and scored in the first inning along with Jones.

Milligan hosts Bryan on Thursday afternoon at 5:00 p.m.