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By: Stephen Williams

HICKORY, N.C. – One comeback effort resulted in an extra-inning victory and another came up just short as the Columbus State University softball team split its two games on Saturday. The games were played at Lenoir-Rhyne in Hickory, N.C.
 
Columbus State (10-5) rallied to beat Carson-Newman 5-2 in eight innings in its first game of the day before falling 7-6 against Lenoir-Rhyne.
 
"I'm proud of the way we came from behind today," said head coach Brad Huskisson. "We did enough to get the win against Carson-Newman and we came all the way back and gave ourselves a chance against Lenoir-Rhyne."
 
The Lady Cougars will continue their weekend games on Sunday with contests against King and Catawba.
 
Game One
 
Saturday's opener was dominated in the circle through the first five innings. Carson-Newman (5-2) scored its only two runs on a two-run homer in the second inning.
 
The Lady Cougars were held off the scoreboard until the sixth. Calli Star led the half inning off with a walk and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from McKenzie Fagioli. After retiring Fagioli at first, the Eagles tried to throw behind the runner at second, but the throw sailed into the outfield and Star was able to come around and score.
 
Kailey Boone then tied the game with one swing as the senior launched her first home run of the season to centerfield.
 
Carson-Newman had a chance to win the game in the seventh inning, but a strong defensive play kept the Lady Cougars alive. With the potential winning run on second and two outs, C-N singled to left. However, sophomore Keeli Waugh sent the game into extra innings as she gunned down the runner at the plate to end the threat.
 
Playing under the international tiebreak rules, Katie White started the eighth inning on second base. Kia Smith reached and Star forced another C-N defensive mishap allowing White to score the go-ahead run. Two batters later, Boone added some separation with a two-run double to left.
 
The Eagles wouldn't go quietly in the bottom of the eight, loading the bases with nobody out. Peyton Sorrells (5-1) then slammed the door shut, retiring the next three hitters to give CSU the win.
 
Sorrells did not give up a run over the final 1.2 innings to earn her fifth win. Hanna Manley went the first 6.1 innings in the circle for the Lady Cougars, allowing just two runs on five hits while receiving a no decision.
 
Boone had three of CSU's five hits in the game, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
 
Game Two
 
Columbus State fell victim to the long ball in Saturday's second game, giving up three in the first two innings to fall behind 6-0 against Lenoir-Rhyne (9-1). The Bears tacked on another run in the third putting CSU in a 7-0 hole.
 
The Lady Cougars were held off the board for the first three innings before getting their offense rolling in the fourth.
 
Kayleigh Briant singled leading off the inning and Katie White picked up a base hit of her own with a bunt. A fielding miscue loaded the bases for the Lady Cougars and Star brought the first run home with a sacrifice fly. With two away, Fagioli delivered a big knock with a two-run double that brought the Lady Cougars within 7-3.
 
In the fifth, a one-out walk came back to haunt L-R as Briant followed it with her second home run of the season to make it 7-5.
 
Columbus State then got within one of tying the game as Boone drove in her fourth run of the day on a sacrifice fly.
 
Down just one, the Lady Cougars put the tying run on in the seventh as Waugh singled to lead off the inning. The next three CSU hitters were retired though, giving Lenoir-Rhyne the win and snapping Columbus State's seven-game winning streak.
 
Briant and Lee Anne Rees each had two hits to lead the CSU offense.
 
Sydney Barker (4-2) gave up four runs in the first inning and took the loss. Sorrells tossed the final five innings of the day.