From Newberry Sports Information

NEWBERRY, SC (February 26, 2007) --- The Newberry College softball team brought its record back above .500, as the Lady Indians swept Milligan College, 2-0 and 5-1, Monday. With the results, Milligan now stands at 6-4.

Game One: Newberry 2, Milligan 0
Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Monette pitched the Lady Indians' first shutout of the year in game one, giving up four hits and two walks, while striking out eight batters in seven innings of work.

Monette pitched 3.1 innings of no-hit softball before Leah White (Gray, Tenn.) smacked a single up the middle in the top of the fourth.

Newberry was already up 2-0 at that point thanks to the speedy Ginna Dean, who hit 2-of-3 with two runs and a steal. Dean was driven in by senior Christina Kirby on a hard hit single to short in the first and a sacrifice fly in the third inning to put Newberry ahead.

The Lady Buffs had a chance to cut into the Lady Indians' lead in the top of the fourth, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but Monette struck out Melanie Strickler (Kingsport, Tenn.) looking to shut down the rally with no damage done.

Neither team was able to push a run across from there, giving Newberry the win. Milligan's Jennifer Wise (Clermont, Fla.) picked up the loss, giving up two earned runs on six hits, walking three and striking out none in her six innings.

Game Two: Newberry 5, Milligan 1
The Lady Indians completed their second sweep of the season with a big third inning.

Newberry took an early 1-0 lead when Kirby drove Dean in for the third time of the afternoon in the bottom of the first.

The Lady Buffs took advantage of a Newberry error and passed ball to load the bases in the top of the second, and starting pitcher Brooke Dowdy (Bradenton, Fla.) got a free pass home from third when Holly Napier (Jonesville, Va.) was hit by a Kirby pitch to tie the game at 1-all.

Newberry capitalized on Milligan errors in the bottom of the third as Courtney Lindler reached on an error to lead off the inning. After a bunt single from Dean, Lindler gave up the first out by leaving second base early, but Sara Powell smacked a double down the left field line to put Dean on third after Powell was caught in a run down. Kirby picked up her fourth RBI of the day, as she singled to the right side to give Newberry the lead.

Haley Watson hit a dribbler to the pitcher on a play that should have ended the inning, but a Dowdy throwing error scored Kirby and brought Watson all the way to third. Jessica Reid singled to short center to bring home Watson and complete the scoring for the inning, with Newberry up, 4-1.

Kat Hammond led of the fourth with a line drive double off the fence in centerfield and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Amy Jarrell. Hammond completed the scoring for the day as she came home on a hard hit ball to shortstop by Lindler.

Kirby picked up the win for Newberry, giving up one unearned run on four hits and no walks, striking out eight in her seven innings. Dowdy went four innings for Milligan and she gave up five runs, two of which were earned.

Jessica Blevins (Elizabethton, Tenn.) provided two hits for the Lady Buffs in the contest.

The Lady Indians return to action on Wednesday, as they travel to Gaffney to take on Limestone College at 2 p.m. Milligan will participate in the Savannah (Ga.) College of Art and Design Smash Hit Softball Tournament next week, with their first game scheduled for March 5.