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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University softball team picked up a win and a loss on day two of the Peach Belt Conference/Gulf South Conference Southern Softball Showdown. The two-day tournament was played at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus.
 
The Lady Cougars (1-3) defeated Delta State 6-5 in the opening game before falling 6-1 against North Alabama in the nightcap. CSU returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 6 with its home-opening doubleheader against Belmont Abbey scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
"The Delta State game was a grind," said head coach Brad Huskisson. "Peyton Sorrels was great pitching and our offense did what it needed to do. That was one heck of a college softball game and I'm proud of the way we played.
 
"I feel like the North Alabama game was the first time that we didn't play at a high level all weekend, and on the whole our offense is something we need to work on this week."
 
Game One
 
Columbus State found itself in an immediate hole to start as Delta State's first three batters reached with hits. A RBI double and a two-run double put the Lady Statesmen up 3-0 five hitters into the bottom of the first.
 
The Lady Cougars began to cut into the deficit in the third inning. Elizabeth Perdue started the frame by reaching on a throwing error and Kayleigh Briant reached on a fielder's choice as Perdue beat the throw to second.
 
Lee Anne Rees laid down a sacrifice bunt looking to advance the runners, but the throw pulled the defender off first and all runners were safe. Following a strikeout, Calli Star broke through for the Lady Cougars with a single into left field and McKenzie Fagioli brought another home with a groundout.
 
DSU pushed its lead back to two with a run in its half of the third, but Columbus State answered with a RBI single from Briant in the fourth.
 
Katie White kicked off the fifth inning with a single deep in the hole at shortstop to start a rally that would give the Lady Cougars their first lead. Star bunted White into scoring position and Fagioli paid it off with a single into center that scored the tying run.
 
After a pitching change, Kailey Boone singled to put runners on the corners and then forced the hands of the defense by attempting to steal second base. The throw down got away from the shortstop and Fagioli scooted across the plate to put CSU in front 5-4.
 
The Lady Cougars added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as Fagioli narrowly missed a home run. The sophomore pounded one of the top of the wall in left field for a double that scored Madison Moseley.
 
The extra run would prove to be important as Delta State scored in the bottom of the seventh. However, with two outs and the tying run on first base, Boone made a diving stop at first and scrambled to the base to give Columbus State the win.
 
White and Fagioli led the CSU offense in the opener with two hits apiece, while Fagioli drove in three runs and scored another.
 
Peyton Sorrells (1-0) picked up her first collegiate win going the distance for the Lady Cougars in the circle. The freshman allowed just one earned run after the first inning, four in total, while striking out four.
 
Game Two
 
Columbus State's second game of the day saw the two starting pitchers working out of jams in the early innings.
 
The Lady Cougars had the opening chance in game two as White and Fagioli each drew walks in the first inning. However, UNA was able to pitch around it with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
Sydney Barker (0-1) took the circle for CSU and found herself in similar trouble after a pair of two-out hits and a walk loaded the bases. The sophomore rose to the occasion though, getting a huge strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
 
CSU drew two more walks in the second inning, but again left both runners on following a pop out.
 
Barker was staring down another UNA scoring opportunity in the second with runners on second and third and only one away. The right-hander was able to get out of it for the second straight inning, recording a strikeout and a pop up for the final outs.
 
North Alabama finally found the scoreboard in the third. With two on and one out, a three-run home run put the Lions ahead.
 
Columbus State found its only run in the fourth behind a leadoff triple from Keeli Waugh. Briant battled with two strikes and was able to roll one back through the middle that made it a 3-1 game.
 
That would be the only offense of the game though for the Lady Cougars as UNA tacked on a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth.
 
Barker allowed four runs on six hits over 4.1 innings for the loss. Hanna Manley recorded the final five outs for CSU, giving up two unearned runs.