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By: Stephen Williams

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The Columbus State University pitching staff allowed just four runs over 18 innings, but the Lady Cougars fell twice on Friday at Young Harris. The Peach Belt Conference doubleheader was played at E.D. Rivers Field.
 
Columbus State (27-23-1, 12-10 PBC) dropped a 2-0 marathon in 11 innings in game one and lost by the same margin in the second game.
 
"Our pitchers threw the ball well again today," head coach Brad Huskisson said. "We're not swinging it well at the plate and we need to get it figured out before we go into the postseason."
 
The Lady Cougars will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with two games at No. 9 North Georgia. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Dahlonega.
 
Game One
 
In a three-hour thriller, the opening game belonged to the pitchers as neither side touched the plate through the first 10 innings.
 
Darby Demarest worked her way around trouble throughout the day leaving 11 YHC runners on base, including two in the first, second, seventh and ninth.
 
CSU's first scoring chance came in the third when Lee Anne Rees drew a leadoff walk and worked her way to third on a passed ball and wild pitch with one out. However, a groundout and strikeout kept the game scoreless.
 
The Lady Cougars left a leadoff double on in the fifth and had a chance to break through in the sixth. McKenzie Fagioli walked with one down and Calli Star doubled to left-centerfield. Fagioli tried to score from first on the play, but was cut down behind a perfect relay.
 
Star doubled again to lead off the ninth and moved to third on a bunt, but CSU was unable to get her home once more.
 
Young Harris (38-10, 15-7) loaded the bases with one away in the bottom of the ninth. However, the Lady Cougars stayed alive after snagging a line drive and doubling up a runner to send the game to the 10^th.
 
The Mountain Lions finally finished things off in the 11^th, getting a walkoff two-run home run for the victory.
 
Demarest (8-8) allowed two runs in 10.1 innings in the circle. The sophomore recorded 12 strikeouts.
 
Game Two
 
The second game was a low-scoring affair as well with both teams missing a scoring opportunity in the first two innings.
 
Young Harris picked up a run in the third and fourth innings and that would be enough for the sweep.
 
Columbus State threatened in the seventh, getting the tying and go-ahead runs on base before a fielder's choice ended it.

With her stolen base in the third inning, Kia Smith set a new CSU program record for stolen bases in a season with 35.