HARROGATE, Tenn. (Feb. 5, 2014) â€" A five-hitter by Chancli Connatser in game one and two hits, an RBI and a run from Natalie Sheffey in game two were not enough as Milligan College softball fell twice (1-0 and 6-2) to Lincoln Memorial University Wednesday afternoon at Neely Field.
 
The Buffaloes (0-2) held the Lady Railsplitters (2-0) to a run on five hits and two errors but could not find a rhythm offensively in game one. Sheffey broke up LMU starting pitcher Samantha Smith's no-hitter by singling to right-center with one out in the sixth. Sheffey, the would-be tying run, made it around to third later in the inning and had Taylor McGinnis, the go-ahead run, 60 behind her, but the pair would be two of six runners Milligan left on base in the opener.
 
Milligan had a similar chance in the second when Smith issued two walks and hit a batter to load the bases with two out.
 
In game two (cut an inning short due to extreme winter weather conditions), Milligan struck early when Sheffey doubled in Krista Lambdin's lead-off walk to take a 1-0 advantage.
 
Lincoln Memorial answered with runs in the second, third and fourth before putting a three-spot on the board in the fifth to go ahead 6-1.
 
Sheffey started a rally in the sixth with a lead-off double but Samantha Lilley's RBI sacrifice four batters later was the extent of the scoring for the Buffaloes.
 
Sheffey finished the day 3-for-6 with two doubles, an RBI and a run. Connatser struck out four over six innings.
 
Milligan will start a six-game homestand on Friday, Feb. 14 against Brevard College in a home-opening doubleheader. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Anglin Field.