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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – Wrapping up a busy week, the Columbus State University softball team split a doubleheader with Lander on Sunday. The Peach Belt Conference games were played at Cougar Field.
 
Columbus State (22-21, 6-10 PBC) dropped the opener 6-4 before getting late hits to win the second game 5-2.
 
"This was a tough weekend for us, but it was good to see us get some late hits and pull out the second game," head coach Brad Huskisson said. "We're in the stretch run now so we need to get all three aspects of the game going and string some wins together."
 
The Lady Cougars will be on the road for the next two weeks with four conference doubleheaders. CSU will first take on Francis Marion on Saturday, April 9. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Florence, S.C.
 
Game One
 
Senior Day started with a bang for the Lady Cougars, as they put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Kia Smith led off with a walk and stole second base. Calli Star singled to put runners on the corners and Kayleigh Briant delivered the first run of the game with a single to right field. With two runners on, Kailey Boone launched a home run over the left-centerfield wall to make it 4-0.
 
Lander (23-15, 9-7) immediately got a pair of runs back in the second with three consecutive two-out hits. The Bearcats then tied the game on a two-run double with the bases loaded in the third.
 
From there, the game remained tied at four until the top of the sixth inning. A throwing error allowed the leadoff runner to reach and Lander moved her to third with two outs. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases and the Bearcats took the lead on a two-out single to go in front 6-4.
 
CSU went in order in the sixth and seventh innings to take the loss in game one.
 
Hanna Manley (7-9) took the loss for the Lady Cougars after giving up the two unearned runs in the sixth inning. Peyton Sorrells and Darby Demarest each threw in the game as well.
 
Star turned in a 2-for-3 performance for the only multi-hit game for CSU.
 
Game Two
 
The second half of the doubleheader played out in similar fashion in the early going.
 
Lander threatened in the top of the first getting a single with a runner at second. However, Boone put a throw on the mark from left field to the plate to gun down the runner and keep the game scoreless.
 
The Lady Cougars then took advantage of their speed and plated two runs in the bottom half. Katie White drew a four-pitch walk to start the inning and stole her 28^th base of the season. Smith followed with a single that put runners on the corners.
 
Star laid down a squeeze bunt that brought White home, and Smith advanced all the way to third on the play. The advancement allowed McKenzie Fagioli to lay down a bunt of her own to make it a 2-0 game.
 
Like in game one, Lander tied it up in the third. After retiring the first two hitters, Manley hit a batter and walked another before a single and two-run double evened the game at two.
 
This time, it was Columbus State that came up with the clutch hits late to take the lead.
 
In the fifth, Samie Anderson fought off tough pitches and drew a nine-pitch walk to start the inning before she was bunted to second. Madison Moseley came on to run for her and scored the go-ahead run on a two-out single by Star.
 
The Lady Cougars then found some insurance in the sixth. Boone doubled and Briant singled to set the table for Keeli Waugh. The sophomore drove both runners home with a double to the right-centerfield wall to give CSU a little cushion heading to the seventh.
 
Lander got the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Demarest worked her way out of the inning for the victory.
 
Demarest (1-2) threw four innings of shutout relief to earn her first collegiate win. She allowed just two hits while striking out six.
 
Star continued her strong day at the plate with a 2-for-2 showing in game two with a pair of RBIs. Briant (2-for-3) also had a multi-hit game.