Softball Completes Comeback to Split AAC Doubleheader Against Milligan

ATHENS, Tenn.- The softball team experienced a mix of emotions in their Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader against the Milligan University Lady Buffaloes on Friday. The team fell in the first game 12-2 but staged a seventh-inning comeback in the second game to win 6-5.

Game One:

The teams exchanged runs in the first inning. A single up the middle by Brantley Bruggink gave Macy Chastain the space to score from second, tying the game 1-1. TWU did not score again until the fourth inning. Trailing 9-1, Rheagan Thomas hit a ball that allowed Taylor Rose to score, making the score 9-2. Milligan scored the remaining runs in the fifth inning.

Game Two:

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the second inning, a passed ball allowed the Lady Bulldogs to tie the game 1-1 when Brooklyn Deaver scored from third. Milligan broke the tie in the third inning.

The score remained 2-1 until the seventh inning. Milligan made a comeback seem harder when they scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning, making the score 5-1. 

Kate Willett started the bottom of the seventh inning with a single up the middle and was followed by a bunt single by Macy Chastain. Tatum Massengale loaded the bases with a walk. Bruggink made it two walks in a row, bringing in the first run of a comeback as Willett trotted home. Rose tied the game on the next at-bat, hitting a double to center field that Chastain, Massengale, and Bruggink all scored on. After a ground out by Ashley Allen got Rose to third, a passed ball completed the comeback as Rose scored, giving the team a walk-off 6-5 win to split the doubleheader.

Olivia McNabb got the pitching win, striking out three batters in the complete game effort.

TWU moves to 5-10 overall and 5-9 in the AAC.