Tusculum College outfielder Miranda Beeler set a school single-game record with four stolen bases, but the Pioneers dropped both ends of a non-conference softball doubleheader to Milligan College on Thursday afternoon at Red Edmonds Field. The Buffaloes (15-7) won game one by a 6-0 score and took the nightcap 7-2.

The Pioneers (14-14) will open their South Atlantic Conference schedule on Saturday when they host Lenoir-Rhyne at Red Edmonds Field. First pitch for the twinbill is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Game 1: Milligan 6, Tusculum 0 - box score
Kimberly Robinson hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning and finished with four runs batted in, while Jessica Goodson retired the first 14 batters she faced before combining with Cayley Shoemaker on a four-hitter.

The Buffaloes jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Natalie Sheffey and Jessica Wheelock drew walks, then advanced on a double steal. Robinson then slugged her third homer of the season down the left-field line off Pioneer starter Taylor Plemons to give Milligan the early advantage.

Milligan added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly by Robinson, and went up 5-0 in the fourth on an RBI single by Sheffey. Tusculum got its first baserunner of the game with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on a double to deep right-center field by Jenna Restivo, but Goodson was able to retire the side and maintain the 5-0 lead.

In the sixth, the Buffaloes added another run on a throwing error to take a 6-0 lead, but the Pioneers loaded the bases on singles by Morgan Mahaffey and Beeler along with an error. However, Shoemaker got a comebacker to strand the bases loaded, then worked around a walk in the seventh to preserve the shutout win.

Sheffey finished 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored for the Buffaloes, who had eight hits as a team. Goodson (6-3) allowed three hits and struck out four in 5 1/3 innings of work, while Shoemaker gave up a hit and a walk in 1 2/3 innings of relief.

For the Pioneers, Plemons (2-4) yielded four runs on two hits and three walks in two innings of work, with one strikeout. Eliza Davis came on in relief and threw five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits.

Game 2: Milligan 7, Tusculum 2 - box score
Robinson went 3-for-3 with three runs batted in for the Buffaloes in game two, and also earned the save with 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief as Milligan built an early 5-1 lead and went on to the win. Wheelock also finished with three hits and two RBIs and stole two bases as the Buffaloes had 13 hits in the game.

Beeler led the Pioneers with a career-high four hits in four at-bats and also set a school single-game record with four stolen bases. Beeler, who is 15-for-15 in stolen bases this season, broke the previous record of three steals set on four previous occasions, and moved within 10 steals of the career record of 61 thefts set by Becki Jones from 1991 to 1994.

Milligan grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first against Pioneer starter Davis on a sacrifice fly by Robinson and an RBI single by Wheelock. Tusculum came back with a run in the first against Milligan starter Shoemaker as Beeler led off with a bunt single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Emily Hester.

The Buffaloes added a run in the second on an RBI single by Kacie Skeen, and tacked on two more in the third on another RBI single by Wheelock and a sacrifice fly by Rachel Coffey. Tusculum cut the deficit to 5-2 in the third as Beeler reached on another bunt hit, stole second and third and scored on a fielders choice grounder by Carolyn Williamson.

In the sixth, the Buffaloes added two more runs on a two-run single by Robinson, who came in to pitch in the fifth and retired four in a row before allowing singles to Robin Stoner and Beeler in the seventh. However, she recorded the final out on a popup back to the circle to nail down her second save of the season.

Kassi Butcher (4-2) earned the win for Milligan after yielding two hits and one run in 3 2/3 innings of relief, with one strikeout and one walk. Davis (7-7) gave up seven hits and five runs (four earned) in two innings for the Pioneers, with Cayla Cecil surrendering six hits and two earned runs in five innings of relief with three strikeouts.

Sheffey finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored for the Buffaloes, while Jessica Connatser was 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored.