Tough Doubleheader for Eagles Softball

David Finney

Elizabethton, TN - Eagles Softball had a tough day getting runs across the plate when they were visiting Milligan University. Milligan has a quality softball program and is currently sitting in fourth place of the AAC standings. They have a good record at 18-7 overall. This would be a tough match-up for the Eagles, however, they have a quality program as well and can easily play with the current top teams in the AAC. The Eagles are currently in 7th place in the conference, but look for the Eagles to keep moving up the standings as the season progresses.

On this day, they would struggle some getting timely hits to get runners on base and across the plate. Game one would go to Milligan, 6-2, and the second game would be closer at 2-1, but it was still a struggle to get anything going.  In Game One, the Eagles' top pitcher, Ally Andriano, would get the start and she would get 5 strikeouts in the game. She would run into some trouble in the fifth inning when a few Buffaloes would get on base and score and a throwing error allowed a few others to score. Whitney Shepherd would come in to relieve Andriano in the sixth inning where she would have one hit and a run scored against her.

The Eagles would get their only runs of the game in the fourth inning. Jill Martinet and Alanna Dunson both doubled in the inning to score Emily Loveless on Martinet's double and Martinet scored on Dunson's double. Alexis Teems, Lauren Parker, Kalyn Jinks, Loveless, Martinet, and Dunson all went 1 for 3 in the game to lead the Eagles.

In Game two, the Eagles would have Bella Krauth on the mound. Krauth has a really good record on the year at 4-1 and she would have a really good day pitching for the Eagles recording a complete game. The Eagles only trouble was the first inning where Milligan would score two runs. A throwing error would allow the lead-off runner to get on base and they would eventually score. A few more batters would get singles to get runners on base, but it was the error that allowed the inning to continue. Both runs were unearned for Krauth.  After the first inning, Krauth settled down pitched five innings of shutout softball.

Reinhardt would get their only run of the game in the third quarter when Alexis Teems would single up the middle. She was followed by Alexis Griffith who singled to left. Loveless would draw a walk and this would load up the bases for Jill Martinet. Martinet would single to right which scored Teems, but Griffith was thrown out at home plate to end the inning.  That would be all that the Eagles would get for the rest of the game.  It was a pitching duel going on from then on for both teams as both teams did not score. The second game would end with a 2-1 victory for Milligan.

The Eagles are in action on Sunday afternoon with a road doubleheader with Montreat. They will then be on the road again with games at Bryan on Tuesday and Kentucky Christian on Thursday. All of these are conference games and really important for the Eagles. They will be back in Waleska for a series with Truett McConnell on Monday, April 4th.