Mandi Mooney
Editor-in-Chief
April 1, 2005
After splitting their fourth doubleheader of the season with King College on Tuesday, the Milligan College Lady Buffs softball team came back on Wednesday to successfully win both games of a doubleheader against Mountain State University (W. Va.).
“I have been having trouble keeping them focused through two ball games,” said head coach Wes Holly. “If we win the first ball game it seems like the fight’s gone out of us in the second game. We just don’t play two games together consistently.”
The teams remained at a standstill during the first three innings of the opening game until junior outfielder Courtney Ruth rounded home plate, starting the Lady Buffs on a rally that left them with a 3-0 lead at the end of the fourth inning. Mountain State immediately answered with two runs at the top of the fifth inning, bringing the score to 3-2.
The score remained close for only another inning when the Lady Buffs broke away and grabbed six additional runs at the bottom of the sixth inning, ending the game at 9-2.
Senior Traci Harrison started pitching for the Lady Buffs with senior Brandy Waddle closing in the final two innings.
“Our hitting improved today, and we played pretty good defense,” Holly said.
During the second game the tables were reversed, and Milligan again faced the prospect of splitting a doubleheader as Mountain State came out strong during the second inning to gain a 3-0 lead.
“I think the primary thing was that we were going after bad pitches in the beginning (of the game),” Holly said.
At the bottom of the fourth inning with bases loaded, sophomore Sarah Smith hit a line drive into centerfield which was just enough for three Lady Buffs to cross home plate and tie the game.
“We’ve got a ball game now, we’ve got a ball game now,” yelled Holly to his players after Smith’s hit brought Milligan back into the game.
Two tense innings later, Waddle gained another run for Milligan to give the lead to the Lady Buffs which they held onto for the remainder of the game.
“I think their discipline at the plate in the second ball game is really what came back and won the ball game for us,” Holly said. “Overall, I was very proud of the girls today. They had two good efforts today in the ball games.”
The Lady Buffs, whose record stands at 14-10 for the season and 8-6 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, return to the field today at Bluefield College (Va.).