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MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Columbus State University softball team grabbed a victory in their final game of the Florida Tech Tournament, taking down Barry 7-6. The weekend tournament was played at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.
CSU scored two runs in the top of the 10th inning thanks to a big pinch-hit from Harley Dawson. With a runner starting on second base, the Lady Cougars popped out on a bunt attempt to begin the top half of the inning. After drawing two walks to load the bases, CSU went to their bench bringing Dawson to the plate. She ripped a single into left-center bringing home two runs to put the Lady Cougars in front.
Columbus State would then give up an RBI-double to start the bottom of the 10th before getting a couple of strikeouts to close the door on their fourth win in the tournament.
"This was a very promising weekend for us as a team," said coach Brad Huskisson. "Multiple times we had our backs against the wall needing to pull a comeback and we continually got the job done. I'm proud of how we handled ourselves to win three straight which hopefully will give us the momentum we need for a strong showing in our upcoming tournament next weekend."
CSU jumped out to the early advantage thanks to a leadoff triple to start the game from Hannah Rose Corbin before a Kirstin Reynolds single brought her home to make it 1-0. They would tack on another run in the third after Corbin and Reynolds singles loaded the bases before Elyse Ambrose drew a walk to put the Lady Cougars in front 2-0.
In the fourth inning Columbus State would double up their lead, first getting a solo home run from Madeline Parker, her second of the season. Chandler Desrochers would walk and steal second base, before being driven home thanks to an RBI-single from Corbin.
Despite having the 4-0 lead, Barry would battle back scoring four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game.
In extras, CSU would strike first in the 8th getting an RBI-single from Paris Poston to give them a 5-4 lead heading to the bottom half of the frame. But Barry would fight back again, scoring a run and loading the bases with just one out before Corbin picked up a couple of critical strikeouts to keep the game going.
Corbin (1-2) led the way for CSU both inside the circle and in the batters box. The freshman pitched 5.2 innings giving up just three hits and two runs (0 earned) while striking out seven. She also went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs and one RBI. Reynolds went 3-for-4 with one RBI as her and Corbin combined for six of the Lady Cougars nine hits on the day.
CSU won four of their five games at the Florida Tech Tournament, with their only loss being to the host school by one run.
Columbus State will play a mid-week game on the road against Montevallo on Wednesday, Feb. 27. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
