Softball opens AAC Tournament with 4-1 loss to No. 21 Tennessee Wesleyan

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (April 26, 2022) – The Milligan University softball team dropped its opening game of the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament 4-1 to third-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan at the Brickyard Ball Fields on Tuesday evening.

The Buffs fall to 23-14 while No. 21 TWU rises to 31-7.

The Buffs struck out 16 times and managed just four hits against TWU starting pitcher Cheyenne Strong. Strong posted eight strikeouts over the first three innings as the Buffs managed a single baserunner in the first four innings. Hanna Taylor gave the Buffs their first baserunner as she doubled to center field with one out in the top of the second, but was stranded after consecutive punchouts.

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead with a pair of two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the second inning. The Bulldogs threatened to score again in the third with a double and seeing-eye single with one out, but Erin Forgety coaxed the next two TWU batters into flyouts to end the frame.

TWU loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth with a walk, bunt single and infield single. After a force out at the plate, the Bulldogs knocked a two-run single to extend their lead to 4-0. Back-to-back pop outs ended the frame with runners on second and third.

Neelee Griffith put the Buffs on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the fifth to bring the deficit to 4-1. Alexis Brown led off the sixth with a base hit, but two strikeouts and a pop out closed the inning.

Taylor smacked her second double of the evening with one away in the seventh, but a strikeout and flyout closed out the contest.

Forgety worked four innings and gave u pour earned runs. Kendyl McCollister tossed two scoreless innings in relief. Taylor led the Buffs offense with a pair of doubles and Griffith accounted for the Buffs' lone run of the night with a solo homer in the fifth.

The Buffs fall into the elimination bracket. They will square off with Point tomorrow at 1:00 p.m.