Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MILLIGAN, Tenn. – The Bluefield University softball team dropped both games of an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader against Milligan on Thursday afternoon, falling 1-0 in eight innings in the opener before suffering an 11-3 defeat in game two.

Game One – Milligan 1, Bluefield 0 (Eight Innings)

The opening game developed into a pitchers' duel, with Bluefield's Isabella Smith and Milligan's Katelin Secrist matching each other inning for inning.

Smith worked out of early trouble and settled into a strong outing, holding the Buffaloes scoreless through seven innings. She stranded runners in scoring position in the second, fourth and sixth innings while Bluefield's defense turned a first-inning double play to help keep the game tied.

The Rams generated a pair of scoring opportunities but were limited to two hits. Lauren Jackson singled in the fifth inning and stole second before being stranded, while Chloe Dillow singled in the sixth and advanced to second after Delana Loflin reached on an error.

Neither team was able to break through until the bottom of the eighth when the Buffaloes lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring the game's lone run and earning the walk-off victory.

Smith turned in one of her strongest performances of the season despite taking the loss, allowing just one run on six hits over 7.2 innings while striking out six.

Dillow and Jackson accounted for Bluefield's two hits in the contest.

Game Two – Milligan 11, Bluefield 3 (Six Innings)

Bluefield bounced back early in the second game and briefly took the lead after a three-run third inning.

Trailing 2-0, Katie Barrett opened the inning with a single before Dillow reached on an error. Loflin then reached on another Milligan miscue, allowing Barrett to score. After Jada Jordan was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Olivia Bailey delivered the Rams' biggest hit of the afternoon, singling to right field to drive in two runs and put Bluefield in front, 3-2.

Milligan answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with seven runs on eight hits to regain control of the contest. The Buffaloes added another run in the fifth before closing out the scoring in the sixth.

Bailey drove in two runs to lead the Bluefield offense, while Barrett scored and collected one of the Rams' two hits. Dillow also crossed the plate during the third-inning rally.

Ali Glover took the loss after starting the contest, while Sara Lang and Smith both saw action in relief.

The Rams return to action Saturday when they travel to Union Commonwealth for an AAC doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.