GREENEVILLE, Tenn. â€"-- The Tusculum College softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with visiting Milligan College Saturday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field. TC dropped from the ranks of the unbeaten as the Lady Buffs won the opener 5-0. Tusculum turned the tables on Milligan and captured the night-cap 5-1. Tusculum improves to 6-1 on the year while Milligan goes to 6-2 on the season.
Game 1: Milligan 5, Tusculum 0
After a scoreless first inning, Milligan plated three runs in the top of the second on RBI hits from Melanie Stricker and Leah Fritts. The Lady Buffs concluded their scoring with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Tusculum mounted scoring threats several times but could not get anyone home. Brooke Dowdy went the distance for Milligan to get the shutout while striking out three. She was also the offensive star with three hits and a RBI. Junior centerfielder Judith Saavedra, led Tusculum with two hits. Senior Megan DuBois (3-1) went the distance and took the loss for the Pioneers.
Game 2: Tusculum 5, Milligan 1
In the second game, Milligan jumped on top in the first inning as Jessica Blevins doubled in Leah White for a 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers struck back quickly as senior first baseman Chrissy Wilkison hit a laser shot over the left field fence with Jenica Fernandez aboard. Tusculum got on the board again in the third as Wilkison hit a two run double and MacKenzie Loy singled Wilkison home to make the score 5-1.
Sophomore Holli Cadenhead picked up the complete game win for her second win of the year while striking out four. Kayla Walker took the loss for Milligan in 2 1/3 innings. Wilkison did the damage for the Pioneers going three for three with four rbis and two runs scored. Fernandez and Loy picked up two hits each.
The Pioneers return to action on Monday as they face King College in Bristol, Tenn. while Milligan travels to South Carolina on Monday for a doubleheader with Newberry College.