Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Stephen Williams

AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Columbus State University softball team picked up a split for the second consecutive day, winning the first and dropping the second at Augusta on Sunday. The games were played at Jaguar Field in Augusta, Ga.
 
Columbus State (24-23, 8-12 PBC) scored five runs over the final two innings for a 6-1 win in game one before falling 7-3 in the nightcap.
 
The Lady Cougars will wrap up Peach Belt Conference play next weekend with trips to Flagler and Armstrong State. CSU will take on Flagler on Friday in Saint Augustine, Fla.
 
Game One
 
Pitchers ruled the day early as both teams were held scoreless through the opening two innings.
 
In the third, Columbus State got a one-out baserunner after Elizabeth Perdue drew a walk. Katie White moved her to second with a bunt and Kia Smith cashed the runner in with a single to put CSU up 1-0.
 
Augusta (18-30, 7-13) tied the game on a passed ball in the bottom half of the inning and the game would remain tied until the sixth.
 
McKenzie Fagioli led off the Lady Cougar sixth with a walk and Kailey Boone bunted her to second. With two outs, Keeli Waugh gave Columbus State the lead back with a RBI double.
 
Searching for a little extra cushion, the Lady Cougars got it with one big swing in the seventh. Columbus State got three free baserunners with two walks and a hit by pitch. Boone then made Augusta pay with a grand slam to stretch out the lead.
 
Darby Demarest (2-3) earned the victory, pitching 3.2 scoreless innings in relief of Peyton Sorrells and striking out five. Sorrells allowed just one unearned run in 3.1 innings in the start.
 
Waugh and Kayleigh Briant each had 2-for-4 games to lead the Lady Cougar offensive attack.
 
Game Two
 
The day's second game started off in great fashion for the Lady Cougars, as CSU put three on the board in the first. Smith walked and stole second before moving to third on a wild pitch. Calli Star also walked and Fagioli drove in the first run with a bunt. Boone then made the runs keep coming with a double to left field that brought two more across the plate.
 
The Jaguars again had a quick answer, plating two runs in the bottom of the inning and then taking the lead on a three-run home run in the second.
 
CSU had three hits in the third inning but ran into a bit of bad luck. With two runners on, Boone hit a line drive that was snared and turned into a double play. A single followed, but the Lady Cougars had a runner thrown out at the plate to end the frame.
 
The Lady Cougars never really threatened the rest of the way, getting just two runners aboard over the final four innings.
 
Hanna Manley (7-10) took the loss after lasting just 1.1 innings. She allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits.