MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (March 30, 2019) â€" Karsten Miller hit a three-run homer, and Erin Forgety and Kassi Butcher continued to dominate inside the circle, as the Milligan College softball team swept St. Andrews University 4-0 and 4-2 Saturday afternoon on Anglin Field.
 
The wins kept Milligan (13-13, 11-7 AAC) perfect in the last four games as the Buffaloes have won five of the last six and seven of the last 10. Forgety (7-6) threw her first collegiate shutout to earn the win in game one; Butcher earned the win in game two to improve to 6-5.
 
Long ball leads Buffs in game one
Miller hit her team-leading third home run of the season for what proved to be all the scoring the Buffs would need to win the first game. It was a three-run shot to left field and broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning.
 
Milligan added one run of insurance in the sixth, but one was all Forgety needed as she threw the eighth complete game and first shutout of her freshman season. Forgety allowed only six hits and one walk while striking out six.
 
Offensively, Erica Roller and Kirstan Beaver led Milligan at the plate with 2-for-3 efforts. Beaver scored twice.
 
Buffs plays small ball in game two
Miller's home run gave the Buffs three early runs in game one, but Milligan chose a different method for scoring three early runs in game two. Savannah Nocera started the bottom of the first inning off with the first of four first-inning singles as Milligan plated three runs in the opening frame. Neelee Griffith followed with an RBI single two batters later to make it 1-0, and then Morgan Overholser hit an RBI single, scoring Griffith to make it 2-0. Beaver finished the inning with an RBI single, scoring Overholser to make it 3-0.
 
Again, it proved to be all the scoring the Buffs needed, although St. Andrews made it close late in the game. After an error allowed two runs to come home in the top of the fifth, Butcher coaxed a double play ball followed by a groundout to end the Knights' threat.
 
Milligan then added another insurance run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Miller.
 
Butcher's winning line in game two included five innings, seven hits, two unearned runs, no walks and two strikeouts. Kendyl McCollister pitched the final two innings, keeping the Knights scoreless on two hits to pick up her second save.
 
Nocera, Griffith and Lindsey Slagle were the leaders for Milligan at the plate in game two, all three finishing with two hits. Griffith went 2-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.
 
Up next
Milligan continues its current 12-game home stand with an AAC doubleheader against Montreat College Tuesday, April 2, at 1 p.m. The Buffs will also be home Friday, April 5, and Sunday, April 7.