Buffaloes Softball Pitching Quiets Columbia Bats in Doubleheader Sweep of Koalas

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – On a wonderful Wednesday afternoon at Anglin Field, the Milligan University softball team faced off with the Koalas of Columbia College with a sweep on their mind. They did exactly what they set out to do, notching a pair of huge Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) wins to get to .500 within AAC play. The pitching staff was all over the Koalas, helping the Buffs to 4-1 and 9-2 wins.

In the opener, Milligan started strong, holding CC off the board. Then, Ashley Worley led off the contest for Milligan with a triple to right-center, before Mia Grasse singled her home and advanced to third on a fielding miscue in right field. She then notched a run on a sacrifice foulout by Maggie Johnson to make it 2-0.

Milligan then extended their advantage by a single run in the bottom of the third, as Alana Parsons hammered a double to left center to score Grasse with two outs. That made it a 3-0 game entering the fourth.

Columbia finally got on the board with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth, as they trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the frame. A sac fly by Ma. Johnson got that run back, as the Buffaloes cruised to a 4-1 win in the first tilt.

Game two was similarly structured in the early stages, as Milligan yet again scored two in the first. Parsons knocked an RBI single through the right side to score Haley Vigil, and that was followed by Parsons reaching third and scoring on a wild pitch.

With the 2-0 lead, the Buffs were not complacent, grabbing another tally in the second on an RBI single by Mollie Johnson to score Jordan Roulletwheeler. The Buffaloes had a 3-0 lead entering the third.

In the fourth, Milligan added on a trio of runs, as Mo. Johnson reached on a throwing error which led to an unearned run in the form of Alexis Brown coming in to score. Worley then knocked Mo. Johnson and Grasse in on a two-run single to left field to make it 6-0 after four full.

The Koalas finally scored a couple of runs in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer to left, which erased Milligan's shutout bid. The Buffs would then strike back with three additional runs. It began with Mo. Johnson bunting a ball into play with runners at second and third. Both runners (Grasse and Hadley York) scored on the play, as the throw to attempt to retire York at the plate went over the catcher's head. Then, a run-scoring base hit by Vigil drove in Mo. Johnson to make it 9-2, where the score would stay.

Worley (4-for-6, 3B, 2 RBI, R), Grasse (3-for-4, RBI, 4 R) and Parsons (3-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI, R) all had multiple hits, with Mo. Johnson providing two RBIs and scoring a pair of runs. The team had a total of 14 hits overall across the two contests.

Sadie Shoun finished her third straight complete-game win in the opener, allowing just five hits and one earned run with three walks and a pair of strikeouts to move to 6-3 on the season.

Bree Presnell added her own complete-game victory with a three-hit, two-run performance. She walked four while striking out seven in the game and moved to 5-3 overall with the triumphant result.

The Buffaloes (17-13, 11-11 AAC) will now go on the road to Grayson, Ky. on Saturday, Apr. 5 for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., looking to jump above .500 in conference play for the first time since Mar. 15.