Softball battles with Milligan for AAC split
MILLIGAN, Tenn. (April 2, 2022) – The Point University softball team traveled and faced reigning Appalachian Athletic Conference champions Milligan University Saturday afternoon and split with the Buffaloes, falling in game one 6-5, before bouncing back and winning game two 5-4.
Game One – Point 5, Milligan 6
After the Buffaloes took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first, Point answered back with a run in the top of the second and four runs in the top of the third. Taylor Knight accounted for four of the five runs with a solo home run in the second and a 3-run home run in the third. Before Knight's second homer, Haley Lyner singled through the left side to score Meagan Pildner. This was all the scoring Milligan would allow, as the Buffaloes rallied back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third, a run in the fifth and two in the sixth to take the lead 6-5 and Point was unable to bounce back.
Knight led Point in game one, going 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Chelsea Parker followed, going 2-for-3, and Asia Jones, Lyner, Brianna Plocharczyk, and Pildner each got a hit. Both the Skyhawks and Buffaloes recorded eight hits each.
Mary Burnham got the start, going 4.0 innings, giving up seven hits, four runs (all earned), walking one and striking out one. Ashlynn Hamm came in for relief and suffered the loss, going 2.0 innings, giving up one hit, two runs (one earned), walking one and striking out one.
Game Two – Point 5, Milligan 4
Once again, the Buffaloes got out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first, but that was the only lead of the game Point would allow from the home side. A fielder's choice in the top of the second would score Knight to even the score 1-1, and an RBI single from Gabrielle Riley in the top of the third would score Lyner to help Point take the lead 2-1. The Skyhawks would double their lead in the fifth with a fielder's choice that scored Knight and an RBI single that scored Jones (4-1). The Skyhawks would score their final run and game-winning run in the top of the seventh with a single to center field from Riley to score Jones.
Jones' run proved to be crucial, as the Buffs scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to bring the score within one, but Katelyn Jiles was able to end Milligan's threat with an infield pop-up to end the game.
It was another even matchup out of the box, as both teams accounted for 10 hits apiece. Leading the Skyhawks was Jones, who went 3-for-4. Riley followed, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Pildner, Plocharczyk, Lyner, Alexus Griffin and Allie Davis each recorded a hit. Parker recorded two RBIs and Knight was walked three times and scored twice. Lyner extended her hitting streak to 10-games.
Jiles earned her eighth win of the season and tossed her sixth complete game, giving up 10 hits, four runs (all earned), walking three and striking out three.
Up next
With Saturday's split, Point moves to 24-14 (14-6 AAC) and is fifth in the AAC standings. The Skyhawks will return to action on Tuesday as they travel to face Clark Atlanta at 4 and 6 p.m.