Milligan Softball Shuts Out CIU in Game One, Falls to Rams in Second Tilt

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On Saturday, Milligan University's softball squad faced off with the Columbia International University Rams on Anglin Field in search of a doubleheader sweep. In the end, the Buffaloes would have to settle for a split on Senior Day, as they earned a 1-0 shutout in game one and took a 7-3 loss in the latter tilt.

In the first game, it was a pitchers' duel throughout, as a combined six hits were tallied. The game's lone run came on a Jordan Roulettwheeler RBI single to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth, which brought home Ashley Worley to give the Buffaloes a 1-0 lead at the time.

A timely lineout into a double play by the Rams in the top of the seventh sealed the win for the Buffaloes, 1-0.

The second tilt was much different for CIU, as they scored four times in the top of the second to take a commanding 4-0 lead. A sacrifice fly, a two-run double and an RBI groundout made up the scoring plays.

Columbia International would add a single tally in the third on a fielder's choice, as well as one run in the fourth on a solo homer to take a 6-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth.

Milligan's first hit of the game came in the fourth, as a walk to Alana Parsons with two outs allowed Alexis Brown to smack an RBI double down the left-field line to make it 6-1.

After neither side scored in the fifth, Milligan held CIU to nothing in the top of the sixth. Following that, Worley reached base on an error in the bottom half, and Parsons launched her fifth homerun of the season to left field to make it 6-3.

The Rams scored one more in the top of the seventh, taking a 7-3 advantage into the bottom half, in which they retired the Buffs in order to end the contest.

The Buffaloes only had four hits on the day, with two coming in each contest, as the offense was lacking overall. Roulettweheeler's RBI single, Brown's run-scoring double and Parsons' two-run shot were the three big swings of the day, as the team only had one single from Maggie Johnson, otherwise.

Sadie Shoun had a stellar four-hit shutout with five strikeouts and three walks in the first matchup of the afternoon, sealing a win for her squad.

Bree Presnell started game two and lasted 1.1 innings. She allowed four runs on four hits with a strikeout. Katelin Secrist tossed the next 4.2 frames, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits with a trio of punchouts. Adrianna Piascik did not record an out in the seventh, allowing a run on a hit and a walk. Faith Caldwell finished the game with one hit allowed in the final frame.

The squad (15-13, 9-11 AAC) will remain at home for an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader against Columbia College (S.C.) on Wednesday, Apr. 2, starting at 2 p.m. on Anglin Field.