KINGSPORT, Tenn. — A weather-related turn of events, followed by a 12-inning marathon between two other conference foes, pushed Milligan softball's Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament matchup with the No. 2-seeded Reinhardt University Eagles back to a 10:45 p.m. start time on Tuesday evening into Wednesday morning. After beginning the game down 3-0 after three frames, the Buffaloes completed a five-run fourth and ended up stealing a 6-3 win to continue in the winners' bracket.
After the field at Brickyard Park was worked on all day due to wet conditions overnight, two different fields were used to complete the four games played on Tuesday. The losers' bracket games happened on one field at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m., while the winners' bracket tilts happened on another field. The winners' bracket field was delayed even further by a 12-inning barn burner in their first battle that did not conclude until 10:15 p.m.
Eventually, Reinhardt struck early, picking up their first run on a RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the first inning at almost 11 o'clock. They led 1-0 after one.
Then, the Eagles tripled the advantage, scoring two more times in the second. Two more RBI fielder's choices made it a 3-0 game after the bases were loaded with no outs yet recorded.
After a scoreless third by both sides, the tide began to turn in Milligan's favor. Five runs were scored by the Buffs on six hits in the inning.
Alana Parsons began things with a single up the middle, before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Then, a RBI knock by
Jordan Roulettwheeler into right field put the Buffaloes on the board at 3-1. A
Mollie Johnson doubled down the left-field line then made it runners at second and third with just one out. After a strikeout,
Sadie Shoun came through in the clutch to knock in Roulettwheeler on a single, changing the score to 3-2. Then, Shoun stole second and Johnson scampered home on the throw down to second to tie the game. It did not end there, as
Ashley Worley then singled, and a subsequent wild pitch allowed Shoun to cross the plate for a 4-3 MU edge.
Haley Vigil then ripped a single into left, bringing home Worley. That gave Milligan a 5-3 lead after three-and-a-half innings.
Reinhardt stranded a total of seven baserunners across their final four frames at the plate, and were unable to put up another run in the contest.Â
The Buffs scored their other run in the top of the seventh, as
Kaylee Oler dropped down a bunt single and scored all the way from first on an immediate double by Parsons into left-center field. That insurance tally led to the eventual 6-3 final in Milligan's favor.
Six of the Buffs' 11 hits in the game came in the ever important fourth inning. Vigil, Parsons, Roulettwheeler and Worley all had a pair of hits in the game, while the three former added a RBI apiece. Oler, Johnson and Shoun had the other three hits, with the latter also driving home a run.
The Buffaloes' pitchers navigated a traffic-laden contest with aplomb, as
Bree Presnell drew the start and tossed five total innings while allowing three runs on nine hits. She struck out two and walked two in the victory, pushing her season record to 7-2.
Katelin Secrist came in to close the door on the Eagles, allowing only a single hit over the final two frames of the contest to earn her third save of the season and seal the 6-3 triumph.
A stunning AAC Tournament result for the Buffaloes (22-20, 14-12 AAC) sends them into the Quarterfinal round of the event in the winners' bracket with a matchup against the No. 6-seeded Bears of Truett McConnell University at 5 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Brickyard Park.
Â
