Kingsport, Tenn. (April 24, 2012) --- The top-seeded Milligan College softball team opened the 2012 Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball tournament with a 9-1 win over Columbia (S.C.) College in five innings on Tuesday evening at Domtar Park in Kingsport, Tenn. The Buffaloes will face Virginia Intermont in the winner's bracket on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
 
   The Buffaloes opened the game by retiring the first three Columbia batters, but the Buffaloes were unable to get a runner on the bases in the home side of the first. After retiring the three Fighting Koalas batters in the top of the second, Maleah Wolfenbarger (Knoxville, Tenn.) got on first with a single. However, that was the only hit the Buffaloes could get in the frame.
 
   Columbia got their first hit of the game in the third, but Camille Olvey (Maryville, Tenn.) threw a runner out at third to end the inning. Milligan responded as Krista Lambdin (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit a double to drive Mackenzie Lilley (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Olvey across home plate. The Buffaloes wrapped up the inning with a 3-0 lead after freshman Sarah Arrowood (Asheville, N.C.) had an RBI to score Brittany DiRobbio (Oviedo, Fla.).
 
   The Fighting Koalas were unable to get anything going in the top of the fourth. After getting the bases loaded, Olvey extended the Milligan lead with a grand slam on a 0-1 count to put the Buffaloes up 7-0 after four innings. Columbia got their first run of the game in the fifth. Emily Biggs (Kingsport, Tenn.) hit a triple to lead off the home side of the frame, and then she scored off a Wolfenbarger hit. DiRobbio drove Wolfenbarger home to secure the win for the Buffaloes.
 
   In the pitching circle, Chancli Connatser (Maryville, Tenn.) picked up the win. Connatser allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts.
 
   Olvey was 2-for-3 with four RBIs to lead the way at the plate. Kelsey Simmons (Elizabethton, Tenn.), Arrowood and DiRobbio were 1-for-2. Lambdin recorded two RBIs in the win.
 
   Milligan improves to 28-19 on the season.
 
   The Buffaloes will return to action on Wednesday, April 25, for the second day of the AAC tournament as they will play Virginia Intermont in the winner's bracket. First pitch at Domtar Park is slated for 3 p.m.