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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University softball team got Peach Belt Conference play started off on the right foot with a doubleheader sweep of Georgia Southwestern on Saturday. The doubleheader was played at Cougar Field.
 
Columbus State (14-12-1, 2-0 PBC) battled back late in both games, winning 8-2 in the opener before a 5-2 victory in the nightcap.
 
"It was good to see us battle today," head coach Brad Huskisson said. "Georgia Southwestern put us behind and we responded well in both games.
 
"The key now is to use this momentum going forward into the rest of the conference schedule."
 
Columbus State will be at home on Friday for a doubleheader against Georgia College. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Game One
 
After two and a half scoreless innings, Columbus State broke through and took a 1-0 lead thanks to a throwing error. Calli Star singled with a pair of runners on in the third and a miscue in the outfield allowed Kristen Studds to score the first run.
 
Georgia Southwestern (12-14, 0-4) edged in front with two runs in the fifth, but the Lady Cougars responded via the long ball.
 
McKenzie Fagioli gave CSU the lead back with a two-run shot in the fifth. Elizabeth Perdue added to the lead with a leadoff homer in the sixth and Johanna Beyer cleared the wall with a solo shot two batters later. Fagioli capped off a strong day with a three-run shot later in the inning that blew the game open.
 
Helen Snavely tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless relief for her third victory of the season. Darby Demarest gave up two runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings in the start.
 
Game Two
 
The Lady 'Canes jumped in front 2-0 after three innings in the second half of the twin bill.
 
Columbus State got one run back in the fourth on a squeeze bunt by Star that scored Kia Smith. Fagioli then came through big again with a two-run single in the fifth that proved to be the game-winning hit.
 
Perdue added some insurance in the sixth with her second home run of the day, a two-run shot.
 
Snavely (4-4) grabbed another win in relief, this time with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Peyton Sorrells started for CSU, allowing two runs over three innings.