Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – Taking on a ranked opponent for the second straight day, the Columbus State University softball team dropped a pair of games against No. 19 Young Harris on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference doubleheader was played at Cougar Field.
 
Columbus State (18-17, 4-6 PBC) fell 7-3 in game one before taking a 7-4 loss in the nightcap.
 
"Today was very similar to our doubleheader on Friday," head coach Brad Huskisson said. "We dug ourselves into some holes this weekend and you can't do that against good teams and expect to come back.
 
"We got a good number of hits today, but we just didn't get enough of them at the right time."
 
Columbus State will remain at home and host West Alabama for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Cougar Field.
 
Game One
 
Scoring early was not a problem for the Lady Cougars, as they scored first in both games.
 
McKenzie Fagioli narrowly missed a home run leading off the second inning and settled for a double. Kailey Boone bunted Fagioli to third and Rachel Rhodes gave the Lady Cougars the lead with a RBI single.
 
Young Harris (25-9, 11-3) answered right back however. The Mountain Lions hit three consecutive doubles to get two runs on the board in the third inning and then added a third run later on a two-out single.
 
In the fourth, YHC took advantage of free bases to nearly put the game away. Two walks and an error loaded the bases up and a grand slam stretch the lead out to 7-1.
 
CSU pulled within striking distance with a pair of runs in the sixth. Fagioli, Boone and Rhodes turned in consecutive singles with Rhodes picking up another RBI. A second run came across on a Young Harris fielding error.
 
Down four, Lee Anne Rees and Katie White each singled to lead off the seventh. Fagioli walked with two outs to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate, but a groundout wrapped up the victory for YHC.
 
Peyton Sorrells (8-5) gave up three runs on six hits in 2.2 innings to take the loss.
 
Fagioli and Rhodes each had two hits for the Lady Cougars. Fagioli scored two runs, while Rhodes drove in a pair.
 
Game Two
 
For the second straight game, Columbus State was the first on the scoreboard. White singled on an eight-pitch at-bat to open the first inning and stole her 24^th base of the season. Kia Smith bunted her teammate to third before Calli Star put down a squeeze bunt. White beat the throw to the plate to put CSU in front.
 
Young Harris scratched two runs across in the top of the third against Lady Cougar starter Hanna Manley before the pitchers took over.
 
Manley held the YHC bats at bay over the next three innings, keeping Columbus State in the game.
 
CSU threatened in the fifth and sixth innings getting a runner in scoring position. However, the Lady Cougars stranded the runner on both occasions sending the game to the seventh at 2-1.
 
Searching for insurance, Young Harris put a five-spot on the board including a three-run home run to put the game out of reach.
 
Columbus State battled in the seventh getting three runs with two away. White doubled in a run to start the scoring and Elizabeth Perdue singled home two in a pinch-hit appearance to wrap up the scoring.
 
White went 3-for-4 in the second game, while Boone had a 2-for-3 performance.
 
Manley (6-6) allowed five runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings.