MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (March 16, 2018) â€" Behind strong pitching from Kassi Butcher, the Milligan College softball team defeated Lees-McRae College 3-0 and  8-6 Friday afternoon on Anglin Field for a nonconference doubleheader. The Buffs moved to 6-8 overall while Lees-McRae, an NCAA Division II school, dropped to 5-15 overall.
 
Game one marked Butcher's second complete shutout of the season.
 
GAME ONE
The Bobcats connected for two hits in the first two innings but due to the Buffs' middle infield, two double-plays in the first two innings prevented Lees-McRae from getting on the scoreboard. Nevertheless, the Buffs came out in the bottom of the second inning ready to swing. Milligan's Kaylee Frascatore singled right up the middle and due to a missed grounder by the center fielder, Frascatore ran all the way home scoring the Buffs' first run of the day. Shortly after, Cayley Shoemaker singled to right field sending Rachel Coffey home putting Milligan at a two-run advantage.
 
Despite two and a half scoreless innings, Frascatore came back out in the bottom of the fifth inning with a double sending Erica Roller home. Lees-McRae earned two more hits in the remaining two innings but Milligan's defense remained resilient securing their first victory of the day.
 
GAME TWO
Immediately both teams scored in the first inning. In spite of a scoreless second inning, the Bobcats earned three hits and three runs in the top of the third. Milligan responded with two runs and hits of their own in the bottom of the third. Roller and Kirstan Beaver both went on to score for the Buffs in the bottom of the fourth. However, Milligan dominated in the fifth with three more hits and three more runs (8-4).
 
Though the Bobcats were capable of touching home plate two more times in the sixth, the Buffs refused to let up securing their second win of the day over Lees-McRae (8-6).
 
LEADERS
Frascatore led with two hits and an RBI while Coffey followed with two hits of her own. In game two, Madison Grindstaff led with two hits and five RBI's while Roller and Beaver tallied two hits apiece.
 
Butcher allowed only five hits in her complete game shutout (game one).
 
UP NEXT
The Buffs will be at Montreat College for an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday, March 21, at 3 p.m. Milligan will return to Anglin Field on Saturday, March 24, for another AAC doubleheader against Columbia College at 1 p.m.