Softball sweeps Carolina in 2023 opener

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 19, 2023) – The Milligan University softball team opened with a doubleheader sweep of Carolina on Sunday afternoon at Anglin Field.

The Buffs scored in five different innings on their way to a 9-1 run-rule victory over the Bruins in game one and a 5-1 win in game two.

Milligan sits at 2-0 after opening day while Carolina falls to 2-4.

Game 1 – Milligan 9, Carolina 1 (6 innings)

Carolina opened the scoring in the top of the first inning with a solo home run to lead 1-0.

The Buffs scored twice in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 edge. Grace Jones and Katie Cronin both walked and came around to score. Jones tied the game at one on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Alexis Brown. Cronin scored on a passed ball to give the Buffs the lead.

McCoy Hensley smacked the Buffs' first hit of the season in the bottom of the second inning. She stole second base, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on an errant pickoff attempt by the Carolina catcher to double Milligan's lead to 3-1.

The Buffs added three runs, all with two outs, in the top of the fourth. Hadley York drove in Hensley with a single up the middle. The Buffs loaded the bases and Pendelton knocked a hard-hit ball up the middle to score two more runs and give Milligan a 6-1 edge.

Carolina loaded the bases in the top of the fifth inning with one out but Milligan pitcher Erin Forgety coaxed an infield fly and foul out to left field to escape the inning.

Haley Vigil walked, stole second and scored on a base hit by Hensley in the fifth to extend Milligan's lead to 7-1.

The Bruins put runners on second and third with two outs in the sixth before Forgety punched out the next batter to strand both runners.

Miranda Millington drove in Bree Presnell and Stephanie Steele with a double to the left-field wall to trigger a run-rule victory for the Buffs at 9-1.

Forgety earned the win in the circle for Milligan. She allowed one run and struck out four on the day.

Millington and Pendleton each drove in a pair of runs. Jones and Hensley each scored twice. Pendleton and Hensley had two hits apiece. The Buffs reached base via walk nine times.

Game 2 – Milligan 5, Carolina 1

Carolina opened game two with back-to-back hits and both runners moved up on a groundout. Pendleton, the game two starter, struck out the next two batters to end the frame without surrendering a run.

The Buffs took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with Pendleton doubling home Cronin.

Milligan added a run in the second inning when Jones knocked a triple to right-center to plate Maggie Johnson with two outs.

Carolina made it a 2-1 ballgame in the top of the third with a solo home run with two outs. The Buffs loaded the bases in the bottom of the third but a flyout ended the inning without any runs scored.

Johnson doubled in the fourth and scored on a wild throw after a bunt single by Jones. Jones scored on a two-out single by Hensley to give the Buffs a 4-1 edge.

In the bottom of the sixth, Jones walked, stole second and scored on a base hit by Pendleton to give the Buffs a 5-1 edge.

Pendleton sat down the Bruins in order in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to secure the 5-1 victory.

Pendleton went 3-4 from the plate with 2 RBI and was the winning pitcher. In the circle, she tossed a complete game and held the Bruins to one run on four hits with four strikeouts.

Jones went 3-3 and scored twice. Johnson had two hits and two runs. Hensley went 2-3 in the game.

The Buffs take on the Bruins for another doubleheader next Saturday in Carolina.