ATHENS, Tenn. (April 5, 2024) - On Friday afternoon on the campus of Tennessee Wesleyan University, the Milligan University softball team was dealt a sweep by the Bulldogs in a pair of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tilts.
Game one was dropped by the Buffaloes in nail-biting fashion, 5-4, while game two was a more decisive 6-2 final in favor of the hosts.
Milligan moves to 12-15 overall and 10-10 in the AAC with the results.
Next on the docket for the Buffs is a home conference doubleheader against Union (Ky.) on Wednesday, April 10.
Game 1 - Tennessee Wesleyan 5, Milligan 4
In the early stages, TWU looked to be running away with the game, having notched a single run in the first, three runs in the second and another tally in the third. They had a 5-0 lead over Milligan after three full frames.
Then, however, the Buffaloes rallied for a run in the top of the fourth on a Jaylynn Halliburton single through the right side to send Mia Grassee across the plate.
The offensive output would not stop for the Buffs, as Layney Loyd blasted her second round-tripper of the campaign chasing Morgan Lawson in, as well. It had become a two-run game at 5-3 at that point.
In the top of the sixth, the rally continued, as Maggie Johnson reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Grassee from third.
Heading into their final at-bat in the top of the seventh, Milligan trailed by just a lone tally. Their valiant effort to come back from down 5-0 ended up falling just short, as the Buffs were retired in order in their final trip to the plate.
Game 2 - Tennessee Wesleyan 6, Milligan 2
The second tilt began in a much more positive fashion, as the Buffs tallied the first run of the game with a RBI single by Hannah Bates, scoring Johnson from third.
With a 1-0 lead, Milligan surrendered that advantage by allowing a two-run homer to TWU in the bottom of the first frame, making it 2-1 Bulldogs.
It did not stop there, as Tennessee Wesleyan marched another run across in the third and then three in the fourth frame. The salvos made it a 6-1 MU deficit entering the fifth inning.
Nothing would happen in the fifth, but Alana Parsons ended up rocketing her fourth round-tripper of the year in the top of inning number six. It was of the solo variety, making it a 6-2 game.
That would be all for the Buffaloes, as they could not create havoc in the seventh.
