Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
By:
Josh Fuller
FLORENCE, S.C. – Beginning the stretch run, the Columbus State University softball team split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Saturday against Francis Marion. Both games were played at the FMU Softball Stadium in Florence, S.C.
The Lady Cougars (23-22, 7-11 PBC) took game one 11-5 before FMU hit a walk-off homer in the eighth inning to take game two 4-2.
"I felt like we played one of our better offensive games of the year in game one and we were right there in game two," commented head coach
Brad Huskisson. "We are playing much better right now, but we still have to find ways to pull out games down the stretch."
Columbus State will continue its eight-game road trip Sunday playing a doubleheader against Augusta. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Jaguar Field in Augusta.
Game One
Columbus State only scored in three of the seven innings, but the Lady Cougars put up a crooked number in each of the innings. CSU came right out of the gates with three runs in the first as
Calli Star opened up the scoring with a RBI single right up the middle that scored
Kia Smith, who reached based on an error.
After another error allowed
McKenzie Fagioli to reach base,
Kailey Boone ripped a two-run double to left field to put the Lady Cougars up 3-0.
Just two innings later, the Lady Cougars were right back at it scoring three more runs to go ahead 6-0. Star got it all started with a single before back-to-back doubles ballooned the Lady Cougar advantage.
Kayleigh Briant placed a double right down the left field line to put two runners in scoring position for Boone. Boone delivered recording her second straight two-run double to put CSU in front 5-0.
With two outs and Boone still in scoring position,
Rachel Rhodes came up with a two-out single to make it 6-0.
However, Francis Marion came right back in its half of the third scoring three runs of its own to cut the deficit in half. The Patriots loaded the bases with three infield singles off of CSU starter
Peyton Sorrells. Taylor Brunson would give FMU its fourth straight single with a RBI base hit to left to put the Patriots on the board.
Sorrells helped limit the damage after getting a sacrifice fly for the second out of the inning, but FMU squeezed one more run across the plate on a double steal attempt. With runners on the corners, the Patriots sent Brunson to second. When the throw went down, Briana Barzola scampered home to make it a 6-3 game.
After a quick fourth, Francis Marion made it a one-run game after a two-out rally in the fifth. Barzola drew a two-out walk and Brunson made the Lady Cougars pay with a double into the right-centerfield gap that plated Barzola. FMU got another run in the frame after a Lady Cougar error.
With the game still at 6-5, FMU threatened off of CSU reliever
Darby Demarest as Taylor Johnson doubled to begin the frame. However, three straight outs got Demarest and the Lady Cougars out of the jam.
The Lady Cougar offense exploded in the seventh scoring five runs to build a comfortable lead.
Katie White got it all going with a double to left-center before Star notched another RBI single to make it a 7-5 game.
CSU would then be patient drawing back-to-back walks to load the bases and a third walk in the frame, this time to
Keeli Waugh, forced in a run. Rhodes followed with a bases clearing double that put the game away.
The 11-run outburst is a season high in PBC games for the Lady Cougars and the most scored in any game since March 16.
Star had a great day at the plate going 3-for-4 with two RBIs while Boone drove in four with two doubles. Rhodes also collected a 2-for-4 day with four driven in.
Sorrells (11-6) earned the win after allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits. Demarest picked up her second save of the season tossing two scoreless innings.
Game Two
The nightcap was very even as the Lady Cougars played their first extra inning conference game of the year.
After CSU missed out on a golden opportunity to score a run in the top of the first, Francis Marion capitalized to go up 1-0. Barzola drew a leadoff walk for the Patriots and moved station-to-station on her way to third with just one out. Needing to put the ball in play, Taylor Johnson did just that grounding out to second allowing Barzola to score.
Columbus State tied the game in the third as Rhodes and
Samie Anderson had back-to-back singles to begin the frame. Smith loaded the bases reaching on a fielder's choice in which FMU didn't get anyone out after the throw was mishandled. Like she did in game one, Star came to the plate and crushed a single to center that tied the game.
During the next at-bat, CSU tried to lay down a squeeze bunt with Fagioli, but the Patriots got the force out at the plate to keep the game tied.
The game went into the fourth tied at one before the Lady Cougar defense coughed up a run. Chelsea Welty began the inning with a double to right-center before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt. CSU starter
Hanna Manley would then record the second out of the frame before committing a throwing error on a comebacker. The error allowed Welty to score to put FMU ahead 2-1.
It didn't take long for Columbus State to answer as White hit her second home run of the season to the opposite field to tie the game at two in the fifth.
In the sixth, Francis Marion threatened to take the lead as Welty hit her second double of the game and a sacrifice bunt put the winning run 60 feet away. However, Demarest was able to strand Welty at third to keep the game tied.
CSU was able to get a runner on first in the seventh and again in the eighth, but nothing came of it sending the game tied to the bottom of the eighth.
Demarest retired the first two batters of the frame with ease before Welty reached base with two outs on her third hit of the game. With the game extended, Shannan Lopez ended the game with a two-run shot over the left field wall to give FMU the split.
White was 2-for-4 in the nightcap with a home run and a triple while Waugh ended the day 2-for-3.
Demarest (1-3) took the loss after throwing the final 3.2 innings. She allowed just two runs on three hits while striking out three. Manley lasted four innings in the start surrendering just two runs (one earned) on four hits.
