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MILLIGAN – With a balance of steady offense and solid pitching, Milligan University softball swept an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader from visiting Bluefield University on Thursday.

The Buffaloes won the opener 9-1 in five innings before taking the finale 1-0.

With the sweep, Milligan improves to 12-13 overall and 10-8 in the AAC.

Milligan returns to action on Friday, April 5, when it visits Tennessee Wesleyan for another conference doubleheader.

Game 1 – Milligan 9, Bluefield 1 (5 innings)

The Buffaloes seized the early advantage and never looked back on their way to the eight-run win.

Maggie Johnson scored the game’s first run in the opening frame thanks to a throwing error, and Alana Parsons later added an RBI single to make it 2-0 after the first.

In the second, Milligan loaded the bases and then scored three runs on three consecutive bases on balls. Parsons also reached on a fielder’s choice to knock in another run to make 6-0 after two.

Bluefield finally scored in the top of the fourth, but Milligan countered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 9-1. Jordan Wheeler provided a two-run single during the rally.

The Buffaloes had only 7 hits but took advantage of 12 walks. Every Milligan batter was walked at least once with Johnson, Morgan Lawson, and Hadley York each walking twice.

Alexis Brown finished 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored and an RBI, while Wheeler went 2-for-2 with a run scored and 2 RBI.

Game 2 – Milligan 1, Bluefield 0

Katelin Secrist tossed a complete-game shutout, and Laney Loyd provided all the offensive support needed to get the win.

Loyd singled in Johnson for the game’s only run in the third.

Secrist took care of the rest, allowing no runs on five hits and no walks with three strikeouts in seven innings of work. Of the 82 pitches Secrist threw, 62 went for strikes.