Holly Earns 1,000th Career Triumph During Milligan Softball Sweep of Bluefield

BLUEFIELD, Va. – The Milligan University softball team made the trek to Bluefield, Va. for a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) contests on Tuesday afternoon against Bluefield University. As the highlight of the day, Milligan head coach Wes Holly earned his 1,000th career triumph as the head coach of Buffs softball in the first half of the twin-bill, as the Buffaloes notched 15-1 (five innings) and 11-2 (six innings) run-rule wins over the Rams on the historic afternoon.

The result of the first game of the day was never in doubt, as Milligan started quickly with two runs in the top of the first. Alexis brown singled home Maggie Johnson, before Mia Grasse smacked a double to center that sent Brown around the bags to the plate, making it 2-0. Grasse ended up scoring on a steal of home to make it 3-0.

After a scoreless second for both squads, the MU offense added another run in the top of inning number three. Hannah Bates had a single to left that brought home Grasse to make it 4-0.

The lid was blown off the jar in the top of the fourth for Milligan. A Grasse sacrifice fly started the outburst, with Ma. Johnson coming in to score. Then, Bates, Jaylyn Halliburton and Ma. Johnson all walked with the bases loaded to bring in three additional runs. Lastly, two wild pitches let Halliburton and Haley Vigil score from third, putting the Buffs up 10-0.

Four more runs were added by the Buffs in the top of the fifth, as two bases-loaded walks by Halliburton and Hadley York drove in Brown and Grasse. Following that, Ma. Johnson and Ashley Worley had RBI singles with the bases loaded, bringing home Bates and Halliburton to make it 15-0.

The Rams did finally score in the bottom of the fifth, but just a single tally on an RBI single, which pushed the final tally to 15-1 in five frames for Holly's 1,000th career victory.

Milligan started game two with great baserunning, as the Johnson sisters notched a double steal. Mollie Johnson swiped second, allowing Ma. Johnson to score from third.

In the third, leading 1-0, the Buffaloes extended their advantage to 5-0 after a four-run frame. Grasse drove home Ma. Johnson on an RBI single to left, before a two-run double by Brown to left field scored Grasse and Mo. Johnson to jump ahead 4-0. Then, Halliburton ripped a base hit to left to score Brown. The Rams got a run in the bottom of the third, as an RBI groundout made it 5-1 in favor of Milligan.

Notching one more run in the fourth, Milligan jumped to a 6-1 lead with a run scored by Morgan Lawson on an error by the Bluefield shortstop.

They would add on three more in the fifth frame, as and RBI groundout by Lawson chased home Lauren Million, making it 7-1, prior to a two-run two-base hit by Ma. Johnson to score both H. York and Stephanie Steele. That double put the score at 9-1. Bluefield would counter with a single run on a defensive miscue by the Buffs, making it 9-2.

Milligan put up two runs in the top of the sixth, as Grasse came in on an error by the catcher, before Lawson hit a single to right field and drove in Brown to make it 11-2, where the score would stay after the conclusion of the sixth, enacting the run-rule.

The standout offensive performance came from Ma. Johnson in the two contests, as she had a perfect 7-for-7 day with three RBIs and four runs scored. She also had two stolen bases. Grasse went 4-for-6 with four RBIs, adding five runs scored. She had six stolen bags on the afternoon. Brown went 2-for-4 with five runs scored and three RBIs. Lawson played in only game two and went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Lastly, Halliburton also had two hits in three tries with an RBI and two runs scored. Overall, the team was walked 19 times in 11 offensive frames.

Milligan's pitching was strong, as Bree Presnell held a no-hitter all the way into the bottom of the fifth inning in game one. She ended up allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts and five walks.

Sadie Shoun started game two and tossed a good first three innings with just four hits surrendered and a run allowed. She had three punchouts and just one walk. Jordan Roulettwheeeler followed her out of the bullpen, throwing the last three innings and allowing just two hits and one run. She set down three hitters on strikes in the triumph.

Wins No. 1,000 and 1,001 for coach Holly both came in dominant fashion, as the Buffs will now have a slight hiatus until Friday, Mar. 14 at Union Commonwealth University, when they will play another AAC doubleheader in Barbourville, Ky. First pitch of the twin-bill is set for 2 p.m.