Erin Blasinski
Editor-in-Chief
September 27, 2004
The Lady Buffs softball team finished runner-up to NCAA opponent Tusculum College in the Milligan College Fall Softball Classic this past weekend at Winged Deer Park. The team was undefeated in its first three games and defeated Brevard College on Saturday afternoon to enter the championship game against Tusculum.
“All in all, the tournament was a good outing for the Lady Buffs with a 4-1 record and a runner-up finish,” said head coach Wes Holly.
The Lady Buffs crushed University of Virginia at Wise on Friday afternoon 8-0 and then played King College, handing King a 2-0 loss.
“We came out ready and we were anxious to play,” said sophomore Megan Aldridge of the first game against UVA Wise.
Holly said freshman Alicia Dick had the game winning hit for the Buffs in the game against King. Aldridge noted that the freshmen are “doing well” and commended them for “stepping up and playing like upperclassmen.”
The team began Saturday afternoon with a 6-1 win over Emory and Henry College, sending them into the game against Brevard College where they won 4-0.
In the championship game against Tusculum, the Lady Buffs out hit their opponents 2-1 but were unable to convert those hits into runs. The Buffs were trailing 3-0 in the last inning with bases loaded but could not “get the big hit,” said Holly.
Holly said that the tournament was good for the team and it allowed the freshmen to get some playing time.
“For it being our first games, I thought we came out real well,” said Aldridge. “Although we played well, there are many things that we can improve on throughout the fall that will help prepare us for the spring.”
“It also let us know what areas we need to work on before defending our AAC crown next spring,” said Holly.
The Lady Buffs will play in a tournament this upcoming Sunday at Appalachian State University and will “then meet their biggest challenge ever” when they play in the University of Tennessee fall tournament on Oct. 9.