Softball edged by Reinhardt in AAC Tournament opener

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (April 26, 2023) – The Milligan University softball team fell to top-seeded Reinhardt 2-0 in the Buffs' opening game at the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.

Milligan falls to 20-13 on the season while Reinhardt rises to 32-9.

The Buffs were limited to two hits on the day while Milligan starter Erin Forgety held Reinhardt to four hits.

Two errors in the bottom of the first inning had Reinhardt threatening to open the scoring. With a pair of runners on, Reinhardt's Kyra Lightner drove a ball to deep straightaway center field but Maggie Johnson ranged back to the fence and reached up and made the catch to end the inning.

McCoy Hensley became the Buffs' first baserunner in the top of the third. She stole second base and advanced to third on an error with two outs but was stranded.

In the fourth, Katie Cronin led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Kate Pendleton worked a full count and ripped a line drive directly to the Reinhardt shortstop for the second out before a groundout to second ended the half inning.

Reinhardt scored the game's first runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Eagles loaded the bases with a pair of seeing-eye singles and an error. A sacrifice fly and a bunt single brought home a pair of runs to give Reinhardt a 2-0 lead.

Johnson legged out an infield single in the top of the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate but Reinhardt held the Buffs off the scoreboard to secure the 2-0 lead.

Forgety allowed one earned run in six innings of work.

Milligan falls to the elimination bracket and will take on Point tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at the Brickyard Ball Fields.