KINGSPORT, Tenn. – On Tuesday, Milligan University softball looked to stave off elimination against the No. 5-seeded Montreat College Cavaliers in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament. After a terrific start across the first two-and-a-half innings, Montreat rallied to defeat the Buffs, 9-5, ending Milligan's campaign.
The offense for the Buffaloes got off to a hot start, as Ashley Worley deposited a ball over the left-center field wall to lead off the contest.
Montreat would grab a run in the bottom of the first to tie the score 1-1 without achieving a base hit on a sacrifice fly.
That wouldn't deter Milligan, as their time at bat resulted in two runs on a clutch two-out RBI single by Hadley York that brought home two runs following an error by the catcher. It was a 3-1 lead for the Buffaloes at that point.
Another run was added by the Buffs in the top of the third on an RBI groundout by Alana Parsons to score Maggie Johnson, making it 4-1.
That is when the wheels fell off the wagon, as their Buffaloes allowed seven runs on Montreat's first seven hits of the game in the bottom of the third, and would then trail 8-4 with four frames to go.
Montreat added another one in the bottom of the fourth to snatch a 9-4 lead.
An RBI double by Parsons in the top of the fifth was the final tally added, as the final ended up 9-5 in the Cavs' favor.
Worley and Ma. Johnson both posted 2-for-4 days, as the two hitters in the lineup with multiple hits. They accounted for half of the squad's eight-hit total.
Sadie Shoun started strong in the circle, as she did not allow a hit through the first two innings, but she ended up being chased from the contest in the third after allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and three total walks. Bree Presnell pitched 0.2 innings and allowed three runs on four hits, while Katelin Secrist concluded the contest with three innings of one-run ball.
Milligan's softball season has now come to an end, as they finished at 18-20 overall after their two contests in the AAC Tournament. The squad will now look ahead to their 2026 campaign.
