Lady Buffs split home opener

Milligan College, Tenn. (March 13, 2008) --- The Lady Buffs softball team opened at home with perfect playing conditions against the Lady Crusaders from North Greenville University.  The Lady Crusaders took the first game from the Buffs 4-3 but, the Lady Buffs came back to win the second 3-1.

Game 1

Sidney Burns (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) started opening day on the mound for the Buffs.  Burns recorded nine strikeouts, no walks, and eight hits for her first time on the Buff's field.  Milligan lead the Crusaders 2-0 going into the seventh inning but, a couple clutch hits brought the game to a tie of 3-3.  In the eighth inning, the Lady Crusaders were able to get the run needed to end the game.  Leading the Lady Buffs at the plate was sophomore Jesa Russell (New Market, Tenn.) going 3-4 with a double.  Heather Poindexter (Germanton, N.C.) also smashed a double and went 2-3 at the plate.

Game 2

The Lady Buffs came out ready to play for the second game of the double header.  Ryann Musick (Elizabethton, Tenn.) took the mound and struck out four batters and gave up only three hits and zero earned runs.  Despite two fielding errors, Milligan kept the team to one run and took the win.  Swinging hard from the plate, Alicia Engle (Erwin, Tenn.) and Leah White (Fall Branch, Tenn.) both got two hits in three turns at bat.  White's two hits were both doubles. 

Coach Wes Holly commented, “A few key errors and a failure to use our bats took us out of the first game but, the girls came back ready to play.  We got the clutch hits we needed in the second game, along with key defensive plays.”

The Lady Buffs take on the University of the Cumberlands at Milligan College on Saturday, March 15, 2008 at 1 p.m.