MILLIGAN, Tenn.— The Montreat softball team faced the Milligan University Buffaloes in its Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) opener Tuesday afternoon. The matinee doubleheader between the Cavs (8-2, 1-1 AAC) and the Buffs (3-3, 1-1 AAC) featured seven Cavalier hits in each contest. The Cavs split the two games, winning the first and losing the second by scores of 6-5 and 6-2, respectively.
 
Milligan came out in the first inning and immediately recorded three runs on Rebecca Carson. The runs came from two singles and a double. Carson made her fifth start in the circle this year. Her day concluded after 3 1/3 innings when she surrendered a total of five runs from seven hits. Carson recorded a walk and hit a batter while punching out two Buffaloes.
 
After being held scoreless for the opening three innings, Haley Fethke and the Cavaliers opened their scoring account to start the fourth. Fethke smashed a leadoff solo home run to left for her fourth long bomb of the season. Montreat continued the frame scoring three more to take the lead. With the bases juiced, Jasmine Rachal put one in play to bring a run in while the Buffs secured a fielder's choice at second. Then, Carson singled through the middle to usher another run home, and Amayia Hernandez reached first on a throwing error, allowing Rachal to trot home unchallenged.
 
Jaidyn Stephens came on to pitch, replacing Carson in the bottom half. Stephens hurled for 1 2/3 innings, allowing just one hit. Going into the home half of the fourth, the Cavs led 4-3.
 
The Buffaloes defended their home field well, answering in the bottom of the inning. They scored two runs in the frame to take back the lead, 5-4. But the Cavs were not done either, scoring one run in each of the next two innings to yank back the lead from Milligan. Makayla Reid singled through the right side to let Hollie Cunningham score. The eventual winning run came on a deep solo shot to right center from Hernandez.
 
Leading by one with two innings of hitting left for the Buffs, Victoria Alcantar slammed the door on Milligan. In her two innings from the circle, she gave up just two hits with two strikeouts. Both Cavalier relievers earned a decision with their performances. Stephens came away with a win, and Alcantar tallied a save in game one, her fourth of the campaign.
 
Game two saw less action than the first. Through three-and-a-half frames, both teams could not score. Milligan etched a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to take a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth. To answer, the Cavaliers scored two runs, cutting the Buffalo lead to just one. Wyatt doubled to right field to bring in Hernandez. The second run came from Maggie Knight, who also hit one to the right side. The base knock scored Wyatt.
 
The Buffs answered quicker than the Cavs anticipated, putting up three during the ensuing inning mostly thanks to a two-run home run. From there, the 6-2 lead was too much for the visitors to handle as that is how the doubleheader ended.
 
In the two games, Hernandez and Knight led the Cavs with three hits apiece. Reid's two hits on the day both came in the first game. Six other Montreat players registered a hit in the doubleheader. Montreat shared the love as all seven of their RBIs came from different hitters. The Cavs stole four bases on the day, all in the opening competition. Reid tallied two while Cunningham and Makenzie Ritchie, both appearing as pinch runners, stole a bag as well.
 
As a team, the Cavs went 7-for-30 in game one and 7-of-25 in game two. Montreat committed just one error on the day.
 
Montreat will find its next action in the Sooner State as it travels to Shawnee, Okla. for four games. The trip will feature games against schools from all over the country. The Cavs will play Arizona Christian University, Avila University from Missouri, No. 18-ranked Benedictine College, which is based in Kansas and (RV) Mid-America Christian University out of Oklahoma City, Okla.