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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – In a pair of tough games, the Columbus State University softball team lost twice on Friday night to Flagler. The Peach Belt Conference doubleheader was played at Cougar Field.
 
Columbus State (22-16-1, 8-4 PBC) gave up a huge seventh inning and fell 11-5 in game one and dropped a 2-0 decision in the second.
 
"This was a tough doubleheader," head coach Brad Huskisson said. "This is the first time we've been swept this season in conference so we need to put it behind us and bounce back tomorrow against Armstrong."
 
The Lady Cougars play host to Armstrong State for the final time on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
Game One
 
All looked good for CSU to start the day, as the Lady Cougars scored the opening five runs of the game.
 
Kayleigh Briant and Elizabeth Perdue each had run-scoring singles in the first inning and Kristin Studds added a RBI single of her own in the fourth.
 
Perdue struck again in the fifth, hitting an opposite-field two-run home run to chase the nation's leader in wins from the circle.
 
Flagler (28-17, 11-5) finally scratched a run across in the sixth, but Columbus State still carried a four-run lead into the final inning.
 
In the seventh, Flagler sent 14 hitters to the plate, taking advantage of a pair of untimely CSU errors. After tying the game at five, a grand slam pushed the Saints in front and they tacked on two more later in the frame. In total, FC scored 10 runs in the inning.
 
Eight different Lady Cougars had hits in the game, but CSU stranded 11 on the base paths.
 
Darby Demarest worked 6.1 innings in the circle, giving up three runs on seven hits.
 
Game Two
 
Flagler kept its momentum going to start the second game, getting a solo home run in the top of the first to jump in front.
 
Columbus State threatened throughout the game, starting with the bases loaded with nobody out in the first. However, CSU was unable to bring anyone across.
 
The Lady Cougars put at least one runner on in every inning except the sixth, but could not find the hit they needed.
 
The Saints added another run in the fifth and their pitching took care of the rest.
 
Kia Smith was 2-for-3 in the second game, picking up two of CSU's four knocks in the game.
 
Peyton Sorrells (7-3) went the distance for the Lady Cougars, allowing just two runs on six hits.