Decatur, Ala. (Feb. 25, 2012) --- The Milligan College softball team wrapped up the 2012 Mid-South Arctic Blast with a split on Saturday morning in Decatur, Ala. The Buffaloes defeated IU-Southeast 4-1 to open the day, but dropped their second game of the day with an 8-3 loss to Martin Methodist College.

   In the first game, Milligan took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Maleah Wolfenbarger (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Lacey Huskins (Elizabethton, Tenn.) crossed the plate. The Grenadiers put a run on the board in the third inning, but Milligan add a run in the sixth and seventh innings to hold on to their lead.

   Chancli Connatser (Maryville, Tenn.) got the win in the pitching circle as she went the distance. The sophomore gave up one unearned run on four hits.

   At the plate, Abby Hughes (Rogersville, Tenn.) was 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Connatser was 2-for-3. Camille Olvey (Maryville, Tenn.) went 1-for-3, and Huskins ended the game 1-3 with an RBI.

   In the second game of the day, Milligan took a 2-1 lead after three innings when Megan Nicol (Surry, British Columbia) and Hughes crossed the plate. Huskins scored in the fifth, but Martin Methodist, who had scored two runs in the fourth, answered with two more in the fifth to take the lead for good.

   The loss in the pitching circle went to freshman Samantha Mahala (Mountain City, Tenn.). In four innings of work, Mahala allowed three runs on five hits. At the plate, Hughes was 2-for-3 with a double. Sierra Plese (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit 2-for-3, and Nicol finished 1-for-2.


   The Buffaloes move to 5-7 overall.

   Milligan returns to action on Tuesday, Feb. 28, when they host UVA-Wise at Anglin Field. First pitch in the doubleheader is slated for 1 p.m.