WILLIAMBSBURG, Ky. (Feb. 18, 2016) â€" Jessica Goodson pitched four innings of no-hit softball and finished with a complete game while allowing only three baserunners in game one, but her strong performance came with no run support while the Buffaloes scored multiple runs in the second and seventh innings of game two. The Milligan College softball team lost a heartbreaker in game one to University of the Cumberlands 1-0, but rebounded in the latter matchup for a 5-3 victory.
 
Goodson allowed only one walk through four innings before surrendering game one's only run in the bottom of the fifth as a leadoff triple turned into a run on a sacrifice fly two batters later. She also struck out five batters and then stranded a leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth to give the Buffs a chance heading into the final inning.
 
Kassi Butcher pitched equally as well early in the second game and assisted in giving herself a lead to work with as she singled to short in the top of the second before giving way to Kaitlin Campbell on the base paths. Campbell's additional speed was not needed, however, as the next batter, freshman catcher Kelsey Linn, smacked a home run over left field on a 3-2 pitch.
 
Those would be Milligan's only two hits in the first six innings before the Buffs scored three runs in the top of the seventh as Butcher started the inning off again by reaching first, this time via a walk. After a single by Jessica Wheelock and a walk by Cayley Shoemaker loaded the bases, Jessica Connatser earned an RBI with a walk, Kacie Skeen singled in a run, and Natalie Sheffey brought in Shoemaker with a groundout to second.
 
The duo of Butcher and Linn behind the plate in game two held the Patriots to four hits, two walks and nine groundouts through 5.1 innings before back-to-back singles with two outs for University of the Cumberlands brought in two runners in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Butcher was responsible for one of the Patriots runs in the sixth while Shoemaker was charged with the other. Goodson then returned to the mound in the seventh to earn the save, but did not have the same magic she did in game one as she gave up a run and three singles, more than the number of hits she allowed in six innings before.
 
In game one, the Buffs had a number of opportunities to break through on the scoreboard, but were unable to cash in after getting the leadoff batter on five times and getting runners to third base in each of the first two innings, including a bases loaded situation in the first. Milligan left a total of nine runners on base in the game.
 
In the top of the seventh in the opener, Jenna Gilbert led off with a walk and then was replaced by Shoemaker on a fielder's choice. Then, after a fly out by Connatser, a hit by Sheffey sent Shoemaker all the way around from first before she was gunned down at the plate 9-4-2.
 
As Goodson (1-1) picked up the loss in game one despite her strong outing, the Patriots' Mindy Jo Britt (1-0) earned the win by going six innings and allowing four hits and four walks, while Taryn Sigl (0-1) earned the save. Sigl, who gave up a hit and a walk in the seventh inning of game one where the Buffs threatened, was the starter in game two, and pitched well in each of the first six innings except for the second. Then in the top of the seventh after the Patriots tied the game at 2-2, Sigl gave up an inning-starting walk and single before being pulled. Britt, like Goodson, entered game two in the seventh inning, but was unable to hold off the Buffs as the two runners put on by Sigl scored and Britt was charged with the third, giving Sigl the loss and Shoemaker (1-0) the victory.
 
Milligan's began its season with two splits and brought its record to 2-2 on the year, while University of the Cumberlands played in what was both its home and season opener and started off at 1-1.
 
Next up, Milligan returns to Anglin Softball Field in only two days, Saturday, Feb. 20, as the Buffs host NCAA Division II Brevard College in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.