Milligan College, Tenn. (Feb. 23, 2013) --- The Milligan College softball team opened Appalachian Athletic Conference action with a split on Monday afternoon against Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn. The Buffaloes held off Bryan for a 6-2 victory, but fell 10-7 in extra innings in the second game.
 
   After Bryan scored a run in the first inning, the Buffaloes tied the game when Abby Hughes (Rogersville, Tenn.) scored on a Jessica Connatser (Maryville, Tenn.) single in the top of the fourth. Catherine McGinnis (Knoxville, Tenn.) pushed Milligan ahead with a three-run homerun in the top of the fifth. The Buffaloes extended their lead to secure the win in the top of the seventh inning when Jessica Wheelock (Gray, Tenn.) and Emily Biggs (Kingsport, Tenn.) crossed home plate.
 
   Krista Lambdin (Knoxville, Tenn.) led the way at the plate as she went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while McGinnis finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Megan Nicol (Surry, British Columbia) picked up the win in two innings of work as she gave up just one run on one hit. Chancli Connatser (Maryville, Tenn.) recorded a no-decision as she allowed one run on two hits in five innings of work.
 
   The second game saw the Lady Lions jump out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Buffaloes took the lead in the top of the third when Wheelock and Biggs scored on a Bryan error, and Sarah Arrowood (Asheville, N.C.) drove in Lambdin to give Milligan a 3-1 lead.
 
   In the top of the fifth, J. Connatser, Biggs and Wheelock crossed home plate to push the Milligan lead to 6-2. However, the Lady Lions scored two runs in the sixth and seventh inning to force extra innings. The Buffaloes saw Hughes score on a J. Connatser single in the top of the eighth, but Bryan used a walk-off homerun to take the win.
 
   Nicol was handed the loss in the pitching circle. In five innings of work, she allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits. Biggs had 2-for-3 at the plate, while Lindsey Keys (Johnson City, Tenn.) went 1-for-1.
 
   Milligan moves to 2-9 on the season.
 
   The Buffaloes are slated to return to action on Thursday, Feb. 28, as they host the University of the Cumberlands at Anglin Field. Game time is set for 2 p.m.