KINGSPORT, Tenn. (April 28, 2021) – Cloee-Anna Merritt pitched another gem, but the No. 19 Milligan University softball team lost 1-0 to Tennessee Wesleyan Wednesday in an elimination game of the Appalachian Athletic Conference tournament.

Merritt threw a complete game, her ninth of the season, scattering seven hits, one walk and one run while striking out two. She gave up the one run in the second inning on a two-out double to left-center field.

Offensively, the Buffs (29-7, 22-4 AAC) were unable to put much together. Lainey Mays hit a one-out single and stole a base in the third, Neelee Griffith hit a one-out single in the fifth, and Grace Jones led off the sixth with a single to left-center field, but in each case the Buffs came up empty. Jones' hit represented the only time the Buffs put the leadoff runner on base, and she finished 1-for-1 to lead the team.

Milligan next competes in the NAIA Softball National Championship, set to begin with opening round dates Monday-Wednesday, May 17-19. More information on the national tournament is forthcoming.