BRISTOL, Tenn. (Feb. 25, 2019) â€" Early-season woes continued for the Milligan College softball team Monday as the Buffaloes lost two games at King University, 9-4 and 13-0.
 
The losses kept Milligan winless at 0-6, although the Buffs have opened the season against three tough NCAA Division II opponents who have a combined win-loss record of 23-3. King improved to 6-0.
 
BIG FOURTH INNING NOT ENOUGH IN GAME ONE
After falling behind 2-0 through three innings of game one, Milligan looked to take control of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Neelee Griffith led the inning off with an infield single, and the next six Buffs reached base, including Madison Grindstaff who scored two with a single up the middle and Madison Cook who scored two with a single to left-center field.
 
Grindstaff and Cook's singles let Milligan take the lead 4-2, but King answered right back with four runs in the bottom half and another three in the sixth. The bulk of King's damage in the fourth came on four straight hits, two of which were doubles.
 
Milligan's hits in game one came from six players. Grindstaff went 1-for-3 with two RBI's and a run scored; Cook went 1-for-2 with two RBI's. Inside the circle, Erin Forgety suffered the loss in a complete game where she struck out five.
 
BIG FOURTH INNING DOOMS BUFFS IN GAME TWO
King once again went out front in the nightcap, building a 4-0 lead through three innings. Whereas Milligan bounced back in the fourth inning in game one, King put the game away in the fourth inning in game two. After Milligan recorded the first two outs with two runners aboard in the frame, King batted around the order to score nine and extend its lead to 13-0.
 
UP NEXT
Milligan heads to University of Pikeville in Pikeville, Kentucky, for a doubleheader Tuesday at 1 p.m. The home opener for the Buffs is currently scheduled for Saturday, March 16, against University of the Cumberlands.