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By: Stephen Williams

PEMBROKE, N.C. – Beginning a stretch of 10 consecutive games on the road, the Columbus State University softball team fell twice Saturday at UNC Pembroke. The Peach Belt Conference doubleheader was played at LRA Field.
 
Columbus State (25-19-1, 11-7 PBC) lost 4-0 and 6-4 in the doubleheader.
 
"We have to find a way to put this one behind us," head coach Brad Huskisson said. "The good thing is we get another chance tomorrow to come out and get back in the win column."
 
The Lady Cougars will head to Francis Marion on Sunday for a pair of games beginning at 1 p.m.
 
Game One
 
UNC Pembroke (24-23, 5-15) dominated Saturday's opener, scoring a pair of runs in the first and then retiring the first 12 Lady Cougars to come to the plate.
 
Calli Star walked to lead off the fifth giving CSU its first base runner of the game. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second, but she was left there after a pair of groundouts.
 
The Braves added a run in the fifth and sixth innings to stretch the lead to four, and the Lady Cougars went to the seventh inning still without a hit.
 
Kia Smith led off with a single back through the middle to break up the no-hit bid, but only got as far as second as UNCP finished it off.
 
Darby Demarest (7-6) worked all six innings for the Lady Cougars, striking out eight.
 
Game Two
 
Keeli Waugh made sure there wasn't a no-hit opportunity in the second game, singling to start the first inning. Smith reached as well to put two runners on and McKenzie Fagioli bunted the pair to second and third. Star then paid it off with a RBI groundout to give CSU the lead.
 
The Lady Cougars added on in the second getting a RBI double from Brittany Mitchell and a run-scoring single from Waugh.
 
UNCP got its first run in the fourth, but the Lady Cougars answered right back in the fifth. After Fagioli reached on an error, Star made it hurt with a double that chased Fagioli home from first.
 
CSU took a 4-2 lead into the seventh inning, but the Braves started the frame with three consecutive hits to cut the lead in half. A fielder's choice picked up the first out of the inning, however the Braves walked off with a victory on a three-run home run.
 
Waugh, Mitchell and Elizabeth Perdue all had two hits for the Lady Cougars.
 
Peyton Sorrells allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings of work. Harley Dawson (5-3) was responsible for the final two runs and took the loss.