SMC and Milligan Split Doubleheader in Home Opener for the Pioneers

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Spartanburg Methodist College softball team split a doubleheader against Milligan University in its home opener on Thursday afternoon.

The Pioneers (3-1) dropped game one by a 2-1 margin, coming back to win the nightcap by a 3-0 margin to split the twinbill.

Thursday's matchup was between the two future Appalachian Athletic Conference teams. 

Game one saw Milligan plate the winning run in the seventh inning. After a pair of singles and a Milligan wild pitch to start its half of the first, a sacrifice fly by Alex Stuckey put the host Pioneers ahead 1-0. 

The Buffaloes (1-1) tied the game in the second with a RBI groundout. Then, the two teams stranded a pair of base runners in the third. Milligan broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh when Mollie Johnson successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Ashley Worley from third. Worley singled and advanced to second on an error to start the inning.

The nightcap saw the SMC offense pound out nine hits and Pioneers starting pitcher Kyla Quiles hold the Buffaloes to four hits for the shutout win. Gracie Starnes and Maddie Handy each had two hits in the win for the Pioneers.

After a scoreless first three innings, SMC's Carson McCowan hit a solo home run to put the home team ahead 1-0. 

The Pioneers plated a pair of unearned runs in the fifth for the win. A third inning bunt single by the Buffaloes spoiled the no-hit bid for Quiles.

Next, SMC will travel to the Cola Classic Round Robin hosted by Columbia International and Columbia College. First, SMC will face West Virginia Tech on Friday at 1:30 p.m. and Coastal Georgia on Friday at 6:30 p.m.