MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Feb. 17, 2017) â€" After Kimberly Robinson pitched a gem, Erica Roller sent the Milligan College softball team to a 4-3 extra-inning victory over No. 24 University of Rio Grande Friday afternoon in the first game of a nonconference doubleheader. Milligan split the twin bill, losing game two, 7-1.
 
Roller was 1-for-4 in the opening game but provided the hit when Milligan (3-1) needed it most. With two out and the winning run 90 feet away, Roller sent the first pitch she saw right back where it came from, over the head of Rio pitcher Tiffany Bise and in to center field to bring home Heather Ellis from third.
 
Milligan dodged a late rally by Rio in the win, finding a way to come away victorious despite the RedStorm scoring a run in the top of the sixth and two in the top of the seventh to tie the game 3-3. The Buffs even avoided some close calls in extra innings to set up chances in each of the last three innings. Once of those chances came when Rachel Coffey narrowly missed a walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Robinson, who made the start in the circle for the Buffs in game one, went the first five and two-thirds innings, allowing only two hits and an unearned run. She walked two and struck out three. Robinson faced only two over the minimum through the first five innings and only ran into trouble in the sixth due to a pair of Milligan errors.
 
Cayley Shoemaker picked up the victory in game one after closing out the final two innings in a one-hit scoreless effort. Shoemaker was instrumental on the offensive end as well, recording two hits to match Jenna Gilbert and Kacie Skeen as the 1-2-3 hitters in Milligan's lineup. Gilbert was 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth that made it 3-0.
 
In game two, Milligan jumped out on top in the first when Skeen launched her second home run of the season to right field, but Rio responded with a two-run second which gave them the lead for good. A grand slam by lead-off hitter Carly Skeese in the fourth gave the RedStorm a comfortable lead the rest of the way.
 
Freshman Jaclyn Jenkins suffered the loss in game two but had a successful day at the dish as she recorded two hits. 
 
Milligan and Rio Grande will finish their four-game series with one another on Saturday with another doubleheader on Anglin Field beginning at 1 p.m. After that, the Buffs will be on the road for Mars Hill University and North Greenville University next week.