Season Preview: 2024 Softball

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (February 8, 2024) – The Milligan University softball team looks to post its sixth-straight winning season in 2024.

Visual Preview

The Buffs begin their campaign at Carolina University on Feb. 12.

2023 Season Review: The Milligan softball team posted a 21-14 record and earned the final spot in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament with a 16-12 league mark.

The Buffs posted a 13-3 record at Anglin Field and swept or split every home doubleheader during the season. Seven of the Buffs' 12 conference losses were one-run defeats.

Milligan defeated AAC top-four finishers No. 18 Tennessee Wesleyan 3-2, (RV) Truett McConnell 7-6 and Brenau 5-2 in conference splits at home. A late-season doubleheader sweep at Bryan clinched the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament.

In the AAC Tournament, the Buffs dropped the opening game to top-seeded Reinhardt 2-0 before bouncing back with a 14-4 victory over Point. The Buffs' season came to a close with a 5-2 defeat against Truett McConnell.

"Last season was not up to our expectations, as we did not play to the talent that was on our team," said 36th-year head coach Wes Holly. "The team was not as focused as I thought they would and should have been."

Milligan led the AAC with a .343 team batting average and was second in the league with 78 stolen bases. Milligan's team earned run average of 3.33 was fifth in the 16-team conference.

The Buffs graduated an eight-player senior class that included All-AAC First Team selections Katie Cronin and Grace Jones, as well as the Buffs' top two pitchers in Erin Forgety and Kate Pendleton.

2023 Preseason Poll: The Buffs were picked sixth in the AAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, a single point behind Johnson.

2024 Softball Coaches Poll
Team - Total Voting Points (First-Place Votes)
1. Reinhardt - 223 (13)
2. Truett McConnell - 200 (1)
3. Tennessee Wesleyan - 186 (1)
4. Brenau - 185
5. Johnson - 159
6. Milligan - 158
7. Bryan - 123
8. Kentucky Christian - 114
9. Columbia International - 96
10. Columbia - 87
11. Pikeville - 79
12. Union - 78
13. Montreat - 52
14. Bluefield - 36
15. St. Andrews - 24

Key Returners: We have several returners who should be the key to our success this year," said Holly. "Seniors Maggie Johnson and Layney Loyd hopefully will be key leaders for this year's team. Both are focused our team goals and want to have a great finish for their careers."

"With the loss of Erin Forgety and Kate Pendleton from last year's team, Bree Presnell, our only returning pitcher from last season, will be counted on heavily to anchor our pitching staff," said Holly.

Senior Maggie Johnson emerged as Milligan's everyday center fielder in her first season with the Buffs as a transfer from Walters State. Johnson ranked ninth in the AAC with a .409 batting average and finished eighth in the conference with a .475 on-base percentage. She drove in 15 runs, hit five doubles, one triple and stole 10 bases. A speedy outfielder, Johnson also threw out five baserunners on the season.

"Maggie is a great outfielder and will anchor our defense in the outfield," said Holly. "She also is a big asset to our offense with her bat, speed and opportunity to score runs."

Senior catcher Layney Loyd hit .257 in her Milligan debut from Des Moines Area Community College. She hit six doubles and drove in 13 runs. Behind the plate, Loyd threw out four baserunners and did not make an error last spring.

Junior outfielder Alexis Brown hit .333 in 48 at bats with five multi-hit games. She had three doubles and 12 runs batted in last year.

Junior Hadley York was the Buffs' everyday third baseman in 2023. She hit .261 in 46 at bats with three doubles, one tripe, six RBI and five stolen bases.

Junior outfielder Stephanie Steele appeared in 14 games and sophomore infielder Haley Vigil played in 16 contests.

Sophomore Bree Presnell appeared in 10 games and had nine innings pitched. Sophomore Sadie Shoun tossed 7.0 innings in eight appearances.

Newcomers: Milligan adds six freshmen and three transfers to the mix in 2024. Left-handed pitcher Katelin Secrist (Potomac State) and infielders Alana Parsons (Lees-McRae) and Morgan Lawson (Guilford) join the Buffs as sophomores.

"Katelin Secrist, Faith Caldwell and Jordan Wheeler will be counted on heavily to help in the pitching department," said Holly. "Morgan Lawson, Alana Parsons, Jaylyn Halliburton, along with Hadley York, Haley Vigil and Sadie Shoun will hold down our infield positions.

With the graduation of seven everyday players, there are opportunities all over the field for returners and newcomers alike.

Hannah Bates, Marissa Casstevens and Wheatley York will help our as catchers," said Holly. "Additionally, Mia Grasse, Alexis Brown, Stephanie Steele Breanna Sandefur and Kylie Blevins will anchor our outfield positions."

Looking at the Schedule: The Buffs will make their way to Columbus, Ga. for the NAIA Leadoff Classic Feb. 16-18. Milligan will play five games against NAIA opponents from across the country, including (RV) Campbellsville and No. 12 Mobile.

Milligan will play doubleheaders against the other 14 AAC schools for a 28-game league schedule. The top eight teams in the conference standings will qualify for the AAC Tournament. The Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport are the site of the AAC Tournament form April 30-May 3.

The conference has two automatic bids to the NAIA National Championship Opening Round with the regular season and tournament champions collecting national bids.

We have a tough schedule this year and the team will have to play well for us to have a successful season," said Holly. "We will participate in the NAIA Leadoff Classic in early February to hopefully prepare us for the upcoming conference games to begin in March."

Last Word: "Our goal is to win the conference and get back to the NAIA World Series," said Holly. "We have the talent and if the girls maintain their confidence and focus, I think we can accomplish our goals. These are our expectations and anything less is not acceptable."