William T. Sawyer
Reporter
The softball team won all four of their games this week, sweeping both Montreat and Mars Hill in doubleheaders. Pitchers Traci Harrison and Brandy Waddle both recorded no-hitters during the week.
On Feb. 25, the Lady Buffs defeated Montreat by scores of 8-3 and 8-0. Junior Brooke Davis led the way in both games going 3-4 in the first game with two RBIs and two doubles. Senior Shelby Banion also went 3-4 and scored two runs.
Waddle picked up the first victory, allowing one unearned run while throwing 10 strikeouts in six innings. In the second game, Harrison pitched a five-inning no-hitter, barely missing a perfect game by accidentally hitting a batter in the second. Harrison finished the game with eight strikeouts and no walks. She also went 2-2 at the plate and scored one run.
Harrison, a transfer from Chipley, Fla., recorded 13 shutouts and nine
no-hitters in her senior year of high school, so a strong performance on
the mound is nothing new to her.
“The no-hitter wasn’t that big of a deal to me, even though it was my
first at Milligan,” Harrison said. “It hasn’t been the first in my pitching
career.”
Davis again led the way for the Buffs offensively going 3-3 in the game
and scoring two runs. Davis said she had worked on making her swing
more consistent and becoming more confident at the plate.
“I didn't perform well at the plate in our first doubleheader of the
season against Tusculum, so I knew something had to change,” Davis
said, “In the Montreat games, I stayed focused on what the team
needed from me, but I stayed relaxed and had fun at the plate.”
Coach Wes Holly said he was worried how his team would play against
Montreat because they had not played in two weeks. He wanted his
team to be more consistent after splitting two games with Tusculum
in the team’s opener Feb. 11.
“I was really pleased with them. They hit the ball well, having 11 hits in
both games,” Holly said.
On Sunday, the Buffs won both games against Mars Hill. Not to be
outdone by her teammate, Waddle threw her own no-hitter against
the Lions in the first game as Milligan won 2-0.
Waddle posted a new school record by pitching only 56 pitches to
complete the seven-inning game. Waddle finished with 10 strikeouts
and one walk. Waddle improved her record to 2-1 for the season.
Freshman Leah Fritts knocked in both runs for Milligan with a two-out
single in the bottom of the third to score freshman Megan Aldridge and
sophomore Rebecca Gilley.
In the second game, the offense came alive again for the Lady Buffs,
winning the game 7-1. Harrison picked up the victory, going all seven
innings, allowing one run and six hits with six strikeouts. Harrison
improved to 3-0 on the season.
Banion and freshmen Ashley Mashburn and Sarah Smith each led the
charge offensively in the second game with two hits each.
The Lady Buffs record improved to 5-1 for the season. They host AAC
rival Virginia Intermont this Friday at 1 p.m.