Lady Buffs suffer tough split against conference foe

Milligan College, Tenn. (Apr. 8, 2008) --- The Lady Buffs softball team had a rough start and loss to conference foe Union 2-3 in the first game. The Lady Buffs then battled back and defeated Union 2-1 in the second game.

Game 1 Milligan College 2 Union 3

The Lady Buffs struggled to get their bats going in this game. They only had three hits and scored just two runs. Senior and hometown star Sarah Smith (Elizabethton, Tenn.) performed strong at the plate batting 2-for-4. Smith also hit a homerun to score a run for the Lady Buffs. Laken Stewart (Pennington Gap, Va.) was the other batter for Milligan to record a hit. Stewart went 1-for-4, hitting a double and recording one RBI.

Sidney Burns (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) started on the mound for the Lady Buffs. Burns pitched all seven innings. She allowed three runs with one being an earned run. Union was able to collect eight hits, but Burns retired seven batters that stepped up to the plate. Unfortunately, Burns suffered the loss for the Lady Buffs.

Game 2 Milligan College 2 Union 1

The Lady Buffs came out strong in this game, looking to retaliate for the loss they just suffered. The Lady Buffs continued to struggle at the plate, getting only four hits. The Lady Buffs were forced into an extra inning; however Stewart had a clutch hit to win the game for the Lady Buffs. Stewart was only 1-for-4 at the plate, but it was her last and only hit that won the game for her team. Leah White (Fall Branch, Tenn.) and Jessica Blevins (Watauga, Tenn.) contributed to the Lady Buffs hits with one hit a piece.

The Lady Buffs gave the ball to Burns once again on the mound. Burns pitched all eight innings for the Lady Buffs. She retired six batters and allowed only one earned run. Burns is credited with the win for the Lady Buffs.

“I was disappointed in the way we came out and played in the first game, and how poorly we hit the ball,” commented Head Coach Wes Holly. “I give credit to our girls though for being able to regain their focus and battle back to pick up a victory.”