WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – On Friday, the Milligan University softball program traveled to Winston-Salem, N.C. for a doubleheader with non-conference foe Carolina University. The Lady Buffs came into the matchup looking to garner momentum, as the heart of Appalachian Athletic Conference play looms on the schedule. It was a great afternoon of softball for Milligan, as they completed the sweep in the doubleheader allowing just two runs across the two games while compiling 18 runs. In game one a big fifth inning led to 8-1 victory, and in the second matchup the Buffs jumped on the Bruins and added runs late to win 10-1 in five innings.

After a scoreless first inning, the Buffs struck first in game number one. Jaylyn Halliburton produced the run when she got a pitch she liked and drove it over the left field wall for a home run. Later in the inning, Milligan threatened with a Parsons single followed by a Johnson double, but that sequence did not result in any runs being plated.

Over the next two innings, hits were few and far between and runs came at a premium, as in a two-inning span the Buffs managed just one hit and the Bruins also had just one base knock. However, in the top of the fourth the one hit was enough to push a run across, as Milligan defensive mishaps aided the Bruins offense. The Bruins began the inning with a leadoff single and the next batter reached on a throwing error following a sacrifice bunt attempt with the runner advancing from first to third on the play. Then, with one out, a groundball fielder's choice scored the runner on third.

In a low-scoring duel, Milligan broke through in the top of the fifth by scoring five runs. Lily Frazier began the rally by reaching base on a walk and stealing second. Ashley Worley followed with a base hit, advancing Frazier to third, and Kaylee Oler drove in Frazier from third on a well-placed bunt. Then with one out, Jordan Roulettwheeler also laid down a bunt and reached base scoring Worley and moving Oler to third. The third run of the inning came when a failed pickoff attempt brought in Oler from third. With two outs, Katelin Secrist and Alana Parsons walked, setting the stage for a two RBI single from Mollie Johnson. Secrist and Roulettwheeler scored on the hit.

Milligan would add insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings for good measure. In the sixth, Oler reached on a walk, stole second, and Haley Vigil drove her in with a base hit. In the final inning, Oler scored again when she reached on a single, stole second and third, and came across when a back pick attempt sailed past the third baseman. Milligan capped the game with three strikeouts in the seventh to capture an 8-1 victory in game one.

In game number two, Milligan wasted no time producing offensively, as six runs in the opening frame set them up well for the rest of the game. The Buffs totaled four hits in the inning and capitalized on three errors by the Bruins defense. The first run came across after Vigil drove in a run with a bases loaded walk. Then, a wild pitch resulted in the second tally. Milligan scored two runs in the next at bat when Halliburton singled to left center with runners on all bases. Then, Mia Grasse followed with an RBI single and finally Parsons drove in the sixth with a single.

Neither side would score again until the fifth inning, when the Buffs added four runs to extend their lead to double digits at 10-0. Ashley Worley started the inning with a single and stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the Bruins catcher. With Worley on third, Oler laid down a bunt and legged out a single and advanced to second on an error, while Worley scored on the play. In the next at bat, Vigil laced a line drive into the outfield to score Oler from second. Then, following a fielder's choice, a base hit by Bailey Vitanza and a walk by Mia Grasse loaded the bases. With the bases loaded, Hannah Bates walked to drive in a run and the final run of the inning came across on a wild pitch.
In the fifth and final inning, Carolina would get a run back on a sacrifice fly. However, that would be the extent of their run scoring and Milligan came away with a 10-1 victory in five innings.

Oler was seeing the ball well across the doubleheader, collecting five hits in eight at-bats with two RBI and three stolen bases. Parsons tallied two hits in five at-bats with an RBI and two walks. Halliburton posted three hits in six at-bats with three RBI, highlighted by a home run in game one. Worley recorded three hits in six at-bats along with a stolen base and was hit by pitch twice on the day. Johnson tallied two hits in five at-bats with two RBI, including a double in game one, and added a walk and a stolen base. Roulettwheeler posted two hits in seven at-bats with two RBI and a walk. Vigil contributed two hits in four at-bats with two RBI and two walks. Grasse went 1-for-5 with an RBI and two walks. Frazier drew three walks in four at-bats.

Secrist was exceptional in the circle in game one, earning the win with five innings of work, allowing two hits and one run with one walk and four strikeouts. She improved to 8-3 on the season with the victory. Abigail Teubert provided two solid innings of relief in the opener, allowing one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Bree Presnell started game two and earned the victory with four innings of work, surrendering four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. She improved to 3-1 with the win. Sadie Shoun tossed one inning in the second game, allowing one hit and one run with one walk.
 
Next up, Milligan (13-7, 8-2) will return to Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play with a trip to Athens, Tenn. for a doubleheader with Tennessee Wesleyan University. The doubleheader will take place on Friday, March 20. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. in game one.