ATHENS, Tenn. – On Friday, the Milligan University softball program returned to Appalachian Athletic Conference play on the road in Athens, Tenn. for a doubleheader with Tennessee Wesleyan University. The Lady Buffs were fueled by a powerful offense in a 12-2 victory in game one, while a seventh inning collapse in a game two loss (6-5) split the series 1-1.

Milligan wasted no time getting the bats going in game one, as in the opening frame the first three hitters had productive at-bats to generate a run. Ashley Worley announced the Buffs' presence with a leadoff single to start the game and Kaylee Oler followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Worley into scoring position. Then, Haley Vigil kept the hot start going by scorching a double to score Worley from second, giving Milligan an early 1-0 advantage.

In the bottom half of the inning, Tennessee Wesleyan would get the run back, as Milligan's pitching command issues led to two walks in the first three at-bats, setting up an RBI single to knot the score at one apiece after one.

The Buffs would regain the lead and momentum in the second with a run. Katelin Secrist drew a walk to start, and Alana Parsons continued her impressive season with a single. Mollie Johnson moved the runners up a station with a groundball fielder's choice, and Sadie Shoun capitalized with a base knock to score Secrist from third. However, Milligan would leave Parsons stranded in scoring position, finishing the inning with a strikeout followed by a groundout.

Milligan scored for the third straight inning, adding three runs in the third to move ahead 5-1. Haley Vigil singled and stole second base to start the inning. Jaylyn Halliburton advanced her to third with a single, and a bunt single from Secrist scored Vigil and put runners on first and second. Runners moved up to second and third on a wild pitch, bringing Parsons to the plate, and she delivered for the second time in the game with a single to center, scoring both Halliburton and Secrist. With the two-RBI single, the Buffs took a comfortable 5-1 lead into the bottom of the third.

The Buffs broke the game open scoring for the fourth straight inning, adding four runs to extend the lead to 9-1. Ashley Worley drew a leadoff walk and Kaylee Oler executed a sacrifice bunt to advance her to second. Haley Vigil followed with an RBI single down the left field line to score Worley. Jordan Roulettwheeler kept the rally going with an infield single, putting runners on first and second. Halliburton then followed with another infield hit, plating Vigil and moving Roulettwheeler to second. Secrist continued the offensive onslaught with a single to left field, loading the bases. Then, Parsons delivered  with a two-RBI single to right field, scoring both Halliburton and Roulettwheeler while advancing Secrist to third. The rally ended on a flyout, but the damage was done as the Buffs took a commanding 9-1 advantage into the bottom of the fourth.

Tennessee Wesleyan pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth, as an error on Milligan's defense allowed a run on a groundball.

In the fifth and final inning, the Buffs added three runs to put the game out of reach at 12-2. Johnson scored the first run on a Worley single. On the next play, Vigil put the ball in play and Shoun came across to score. The final run of the game came when Roulettwheeler singled to right field to score Worley.

The Bulldogs would not score in the bottom of the fifth, and the Buffs earned a 12-2 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.

In game number two, Milligan broke through in the second inning after a scoreless first. Halliburton singled to start the frame and Roulettwheeler immediately drove her in with a double to deep right field. Then, Shoun and Parsons drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs. However, two strikeouts and a successful pickoff limited the damage, leaving the Buffs with just one run as they stranded the bases loaded.

Tennessee Wesleyan would even the score with a run in the bottom half of the second, as a leadoff double followed by a single moved a runner to third. The run would come across on a wild pitch.

The Buffs manufactured a run, which was hard to come by, in the third to take a one-run lead at 2-1. A one-out single from Oler turned into a run after she stole second and moved to third on a flyout. Then, Halliburton came through in the clutch with a two-out single to score Oler.

Neither side scored again until the seventh and final inning, when Milligan added three runs. Mia Grasse drew a leadoff walk and Worley followed with a double to right field, advancing pinch runner Campbell Owen to third. Oler then reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on the throw, while Worley moved to third and Owen scored to extend the lead. After a groundout, Jaylyn Halliburton delivered a two-RBI single, scoring both Oler and Worley to give Milligan a 5-1 lead.

Following the three-run inning, Tennessee Wesleyan put five runs on the board to win the game in walk-off fashion. The late game rally started with back-to-back singles, followed by consecutive walks to bring in a run and load the bases. Then, a double cleared the bases and tied the game at five. The winning run came across for the Bulldogs when a groundout moved the runner to third and a passed ball allowed the run to end the game.

Worley was seeing the ball well across the doubleheader, tallying four hits in seven at-bats with four runs scored and a walk. Oler collected one hit in five at-bats with two RBI and a stolen base. Vigil posted three hits in eight at-bats with three RBI, highlighted by a double in game one along with a stolen base. Roulettwheeler recorded three hits in eight at-bats with two RBI, including a double in game two. Halliburton had an outstanding day with five hits in eight at-bats and four RBI. Parsons tallied three hits in six at-bats with four RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Johnson went hitless in five at-bats but added two walks and a stolen base. Shoun contributed one hit in four at-bats with an RBI and drew three walks. Grasse drew a walk in her lone pinch-hit appearance. Secrist went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and a walk in game one.

Secrist earned the win in game one with five innings of work, allowing five hits and two runs with three walks and four strikeouts. She improved to 9-3 on the season. Bree Presnell started game two with 1.1 innings pitched, surrendering three hits and one unearned run with two walks and two strikeouts. Abigail Teubert provided 4.2 innings of relief in the second game, allowing four hits and three earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts. Secrist took the loss after tossing 0.1 innings in the seventh, allowing one hit and one earned run with one walk.

Next up, Milligan (14-8, 9-2) will travel to Jefferson City, Tenn. on Thursday, March 26 for a non-conference doubleheader that was rescheduled from February 3. First pitch for game one is still TBD.