GAFFNEY, S.C. - The Columbus State University softball team dropped both games in Saturday's doubleheader at Limestone.

Columbus State (0-3) fell behind early in the opening game, while coming up just short in extra innings behind a record-setting pitching performance in the second game. 

CSU will be at home for the first time this season taking part in the 2019 Cougar Classic. Their first game of the tournament is Friday, Feb. 15 against Albany State with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Game One

Limestone got off to the hot start giving themselves the early lead in the second inning after putting three runs on the board. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for the Saints with only one out bringing pinch hitter Audra Butler to the plate. Butler worked a walk, which was followed by a single and a fielder's choice to give the Saints the 3-0 lead. 

Columbus State would respond immediately as Morgan Elston hit a two-out double on the first pitch to right field and moved to third on a single from Kirstin Reynolds. Elston would then come home for the first run of the game for CSU on a wild pitch.

The Lady Cougars struggled against the starting pitcher Sydney Sulllivan (1-0) who threw a complete game racking up seven strikeouts. 

Mary Horne would add the only other run for CSU in the fifth after she doubled down the left field line to bring Madisyn Brown home making it a 5-2 game. Sullivan didn't allow a hit over the final two innings to shut the door. 

Hannah Rose Corbin (0-1) lasted just two innings giving up two hits, three walks and three earned runs. 

Elston finished 1-for-3 with a run while Horne went 1-for-2 with her RBI double.

Game Two

Game two was all about one of the greatest pitching performances in Lady Cougar softball history. In her first official start of the season, senior Darby Demarest went on an absolute tear to open the game. Demarest struck out the first 12 batters she faced. Through four innings, she had thrown just 38 pitches, 28 of which were strikes. 

The senior was in full command leaving Limestone hitters clueless at the plate. A pop up to third in the fifth inning finally ended the strikeout streak. Demarest got another pop up to third which made it two down with the score sitting at 0-0. 

That's when trouble started brewing for CSU. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for the Saints and Lindsey Mason at the plate. Mason hit a soft grounder towards Demarest but a throwing error by the senior scored two runs giving the Saints the lead despite the no-hitter at the time. 

The Lady Cougars would immediately respond with their power hitter Elizabeth Perdue as she cranked a bomb to centerfield, tying the game at two-apiece. 

The game would go to extra innings played under the international tiebreak rules, which places a runner on second to begin each inning. Columbus State was unable to move the runner from second after two strikeouts and a pop out. 

Limestone had their crack at it in the bottom of the eighth. With two outs, Vic Brewington singled home the winning run to come away with the 3-2 win. 

The 19 strikeouts for Demarest were a new career high for the senior (15 previously) and a new Columbus State school record. Demarest (0-1) finished the game giving up just two hits and three unearned runs.