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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – On day two of the 2016 Cougar Classic, the Columbus State University softball team took down Miles and Bellarmine in back-to-back contests played at the South Commons Softball Complex on Saturday.
 
The Lady Cougars put up 18 hits in an 11-3 mercy-rule victory over Miles before getting a clutch hit late to propel them to a 5-4 win over Bellarmine.
 
Columbus State improved to 5-4 on the season with the wins and will have two more games on Sunday. CSU will play Lincoln Memorial at noon with a second game against Miles to follow.
 
Game One
 
The Lady Cougars wasted no time getting on the board in the opening game. Katie White walked to open the bottom of the first and moved to third behind a stolen base and wild pitch. Calli Star then put CSU in front with a single into right field.
 
Miles (0-8) would tie the game in the second, but it would not stay tied for long.
 
Rachel Rhodes singled back through the middle to lead off the Lady Cougar second and scored two batters later as Kayleigh Briant launched her first collegiate home run over the centerfield wall. White then cashed in another walk scoring on a two-out single by Kia Smith.
 
The Golden Bears answered back with two runs in the top of the third, but they would be the last runs Miles would score in the game.
 
CSU added two more runs in the third, getting a RBI single from Keeli Waugh and a run-scoring double to the left field wall from Briant.
 
The Columbus State offense then unloaded in the sixth inning to call an early halt to the contest. The Lady Cougars sent 12 batters to the plate in the frame, scoring five runs on six hits.
 
Lee Anne Rees drove a ball through the right side with the bases loaded to score a pair and Samie Anderson followed with a run-scoring single. Madison Moseley picked up a pinch-hit RBI infield single and Smith wrapped the game up with a knock through the middle to invoke the run rule.
 
Briant led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 game, driving in three runs. Smith also had a three-hit day, while 10 different Lady Cougars got in the hit column overall.
 
Peyton Sorrells (3-1) picked up the win pitching the final four innings. The freshman allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits.
 
Game Two
 
Facing Bellarmine (5-5) for the second time in as many as days, Columbus State found a first inning run for the second straight game.
 
Playing small ball, the Lady Cougars laid down bunts with the first four batters. White and Smith each beat throws to first for hits before Calli Star advanced the pair with a sacrifice. With two in scoring position, McKenzie Fagioli bunted White across the plate.
 
Bellarmine tied the game up in the top of the third, but CSU answered back and surged in front in the bottom half thanks again to small ball.
 
Rees reached on an error to start the inning before White and Smith again put down bunt singles. Star then put Columbus State back in front with a two-run single. Fagioli followed with another single to bring another run across and give CSU a 4-1 advantage.
 
The Knights strung together four hits in the top of the fifth, plating three runs to tie the game at four.
 
Searching for the game-winning run, Columbus State finally found it in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff groundout, Briant delivered again for CSU. The freshman was inserted as a pinch-hitter and proceeded to double to the wall in left-center. Rees then singled on the infield and stole second to put two runners in scoring position.
 
The Lady Cougars failed to get the run home with one out, but Smith came through in the clutch for CSU. The centerfielder lined a single into left field to score Briant and ultimately win the game.
 
Sydney Barker (2-1) retired the Knights in order in the seventh to seal the victory and earn her second win of the season. The right-hander tossed two scoreless innings allowing just one base runner. Hanna Manley went five innings in the start for the Lady Cougars.
 
Smith continued her strong day at the plate with a 4-for-4 performance in the nightcap. White and Star each had multi-hit games as well.