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By: Stephen Williams
 
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The offense came alive late in the day on Wednesday, as the Columbus State University softball team earned a split of a non-conference doubleheader at Nova Southeastern. The games were played at the AD Griffin Sports Complex in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
 
Columbus State moves to 17-12 on the season, while Nova Southeastern sits at 9-19 overall.
 
The Lady Cougars return to Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday with a doubleheader at Montevallo. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
Game One
 
Columbus State controlled play early jumping in front of the Sharks by a pair of runs.
 
Katie White walked on five pitches leading off the game and didn't need a ball to be put in play to score. The senior stole second and then moved to third on a wild pitch. White came across to score later in the inning thanks to an error by the NSU catcher.
 
In the third, the Lady Cougars got things going with two outs. Kia Smith singled on the infield and, like White earlier, swiped second base. Calli Star followed with a knock of her own and the speedy Smith came around to make it 2-0.
 
Nova Southeastern finally got its offense going in the fourth. With two on and one out, a triple cleared the bases and tied the game. Another run-scoring hit backed up the triple and put the Sharks in front.
 
NSU added an insurance run in the sixth and the Lady Cougars couldn't push runs across in the seventh.
 
Darby Demarest (0-2) made her first appearance in the circle in nearly a month for CSU, giving up three runs on four hits in four innings of work. Peyton Sorrells allowed one run in two innings of relief.
 
Keeli Waugh had the only multi-hit game for the Lady Cougars, going 2-for-3 in the loss.
 
Game Two
 
The nightcap started in similar fashion, with the Lady Cougars getting the first runs on the board.
 
Waugh continued her good day at the plate with a single to start the second inning and added to the Lady Cougar stolen base total on the day. With runners on the corners, White laid down a squeeze bunt. The Sharks retired the runner at the plate, but White was able to force the action between first and second allowing the second runner to come in and score.
 
White added a pair of RBIs to her total in the fourth. With Kayleigh Briant and Samie Anderson in scoring position, the senior doubled down the left field line to stretch the lead out to three.
 
NSU put a run up in the bottom half of the inning, but it would be all Columbus State the rest of the way.
 
The Lady Cougars tacked on four runs in each of the next two innings as the offense woke up. Waugh's day kept rolling with a two-run double to break the game open, while Briant and Elizabeth Perdue each picked up RBIs in the four-run fifth.
 
One inning later, Rachel Rhodes, Waugh and Briant each drove in runs to push the lead to double digits and set CSU up for the mercy-rule victory.
 
All nine Lady Cougar starters had at least one hit in the game and seven different players scored a run. Waugh was 2-for-3 with three driven in, while Briant went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
 
Hanna Manley (5-4) went the first five innings in the circle for the victory. The right-hander allowed just one run on four hits. Sydney Barker pitched a scoreless sixth to wrap up the win.