Softball sweeps Union in conference doubleheader

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. (March 6, 2023) – The Milligan University softball team defeated Union 10-6 and 6-4 to earn the Buffs' first two Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) wins of the season on Monday.

The Buffs move to 6-2, 2-2 AAC while Union falls to 5-10, 4-4 AAC.

Game 1 – Milligan 10, Union 6

The Buffs were one out away from an 8-0 five-inning run-rule victory over the Bulldogs in the opening game, but Union scored five two-out runs to extend the game. The Buffs added some breathing room with a pair of runs in the seventh and held on for the 10-6 victory.

The Buffs scored twice in the second and third innings and used a three-run fourth inning to lead 7-0. Starting pitcher Erin Forgety allowed three hits and no runs in the first four innings. Katie Cronin doubled home Grace Jones in the top of the fifth to set up a potential run-rule situation before the Bulldogs rallied to make it a seven-inning ballgame.

Jones, Cronin and Maggie Johnson had three hits apiece, including one double each, in the win. Jones scored three times and drove in two runs. Bailey Cantrell also had a double and two RBI. Kate Pendleton and Hadley York both had two hits. York and Layney Loyd both scored twice.

Forgety notched eight strikeouts as the winning pitcher.

Game 2 – Milligan 6, Union 4

Milligan scored in the first and third innings to open a 2-0 lead on Union in game two. Cantrell doubled in Cronin in the first and Pendleton scored Cantrell with a base hit in the third.

The Bulldogs struck back in the third with a solo home run to half Milligan's lead to 2-1. Union threatened to tie the game with runners on first and second with no outs. Sadie Shoun entered the game and coaxed a pair of force outs and a fly out to escape the inning.

Union took a 3-2 lead with a pair of runs in the fourth, but Milligan responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Cantrell scored on a wild pitch and Bree Presnell singled home Alexis Brown to give Milligan a 4-3 edge.

The Bulldogs knotted the game at four in the home half of the fifth inning. The Bulldogs put a runner on third with one out but Forgety, who entered in relief in the inning, got a strikeout and foul out to close the frame. In the top of the sixth, Jones singled and Cronin doubled to put Buffs on second and third with one out, but Milligan was unable to score a go-ahead run.

Stephanie Steele singled to lead off the top of the seventh. McCoy Hensley had a two-out pinch hit single. York hit a grounder to the third baseman who unsuccessfully tried to tag Steele, who slid in safely as the Buffs loaded the bases. Jones singled to center field to score Steele and Hensley and give the Buffs a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.

The put two runners on base to bring the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh before Forgety ended the game with a pop up. Forgety threw three scoreless innings to earn her second win of the day in the circle.

The Buffs notched 16 hits on the day as Jones and Cantrell had three hits each. Cronin doubled twice and was joined by Brown and Steele with two-hit games. Cantrell scored twice and Jones had two RBI.

Milligan returns to action tomorrow at Anglin Field for an AAC doubleheader against Bluefield starting at 2:00 p.m.