SAVANNAH, GA (March 8, 2007) --- The Milligan College softball team concluded their eight-game session of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Smash Hit Tournament with two losses against ranked teams. In the first game of the day, Milligan lost 12-4 to the University of Mobile (Ala.), the No. 2 team from the NAIA preseason rankings. Milligan then suffered an 8-0 loss against No. 11 SCAD. After Thursday’s games, Milligan now holds a 9-9 record.

Milligan 4 No. 2 Mobile 12

After falling behind 3-0 against Mobile, a four-run fourth inning gave Milligan the lead. Jessica Blevins (Elizabethton, Tenn.) started the rally with a two-run home run. Leah White (Gray, Tenn.) followed Blevins’ home run with a walk, Mallory Tincher (Jacksonville, Fla.) was hit by a pitch and Kayla Walker (Tracy, Calif.) drew a walk to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Melanie Strickler (Kingsport, Tenn.) drove in White with a RBI single into center field to tie the game. With the bases still full of Lady Buffs, Laken Stewart (Pennington Gap, Va.) reached safely on a fielder’s choice which allowed Tincher to come home and put Milligan in front 4-3.

Mobile eventually scored nine unanswered runs, two in the fifth and seven more in the sixth inning to regain the lead and win the contest.

Brooke Dowdy (Bradenton, Fla.) suffered the loss on the mound; she allowed 12 runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts.

Milligan 0 SCAD 8

Against SCAD, the Lady Buffs could only manage two hits in the contest. Stewart and Leah Fritts (Knoxville, Tenn.) each contributed back-to-back singles in the third inning, but Milligan was unable to capitalize.

Jennifer Wise (Clermont, Fla.) pitched 1 1/3 innings and gave up eight runs on seven hits for Milligan.

Milligan will return to action against NCAA Division II foe Tusculum (Tenn.) College Monday afternoon. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Anglin Field. In their earlier doubleheader on February 24, Milligan won the first game 5-0 and Tusculum captured the night cap 5-1.