Softball Splits With Milligan

MILLIGAN, TENN. – The Mars Hill softball spilt a pair of games against the Milligan Buffaloes on Saturday, February 06. The Lions dropped game one 5-3 before bouncing back in the nightcap to claim a 6-1 win. MHU is now 3-3 on the season while MC is 1-1.

GAME ONE

The Buffaloes were able to jump on the scoreboard early in the first. With two outs and a runner on first Natalie Sheffey took the second pitch that she saw out to dead center to give the Buffs a 2-0 lead. The Lions were presented with an opportunity in the bottom of the 2^nd when they had runners on the corners with two outs, but a pop up on the infield put an end to the threat.

Milligan took full advantage of the missed chance from the Lions as another two-run homerun, this time off the bat of Kacie Steen, staked the road team to a 4-0 lead.

The Blue and Gold finally pushed a run across the board in the home-half of the first when Taylor Lail crushed a ball to center field to give the Lions some hope. The homerun parade did not stop there as Ellen Tillman came to the plate in the bottom of the 5^th and launched a ball over the right field fence to cut the Buffaloes' lead in half. However, the deficit was too much to overcome as Milligan pulled the first game out 5-3.

GAME TWO

Milligan was able to breakthrough first in the second game of the double dip, putting the leadoff batter on and scoring with a double to deep-right center. However, that would be the extent of the Buffaloes offense in game two as the Lions pitching staff shut the door on any thoughts of a sweep.

MHU was able to knot the game at one in the bottom of the third after Patricia Thompson lead the inning off with a double to right. She came around to score on a single to shallow center by Lail.

The Buffaloes went 1-2-3 in the top of the fourth and Mars Hill blew the game wide open in the bottom portion of the inning with five runs on two hits.  A lot of things happened in the beginning of the frame, but the Buffs were poised to get out the jam with no damage, but had to do so with the bases chucked and two outs.

That's when the magic happened. Erin Vickery took a 0-2 pitch over the center field fence for a grand slam and the very next batter, Lail, followed suit with her second homerun in as many games.

Milligan could not bounce back from the huge offensive output from the Lions and eventually dropped game two 6-1.

The Lions will be back in action tomorrow as they travel to Aiken, S.C. to complete a twin-billing with USC Aiken. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.