COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University softball team evened its record at 5-5 on the year after a 3-0 shutout victory over Union Saturday night. The game was played at Cougar Field apart of the 2020 Cougar Classic. 

Despite recording four hits, the Cougars were never in serious jeopardy throughout the night as starter Hannah Rose Corbin continued to impress. The sophomore tossed the complete game shutout scattering eight hits to record her second consecutive victory.

"We didn't put many hits on the board, but we strung the bats better than the boxscore shows," commented head coach Brad Huskisson. "We had some good at-bats up there and made Union's pitcher work hard all night."

"But, another crucial performance in the circle from Hannah. She is a warrior and battles every night out there for her teammates."

Union's (6-4) had an early chance to take a lead in the second. Back-to-back singles with one-out put Corbin and the Cougars in trouble. However, base running blunders by the Bulldogs hindered the threat. Peyton Mathis was called out for leaving second early before Katelyn Cooper gunned down Shelby Smith at the plate on a single to keep the game scoreless.

Columbus State finally broke through in the fourth. Leadoff walks by Elyse Ambrose and Madeline Parker quickly put Union starter Gabby Morris under pressure. Paige Vincent made the free passes hurt with a sharp single up the middle to score Ambrose. Morris would continue to struggle with her control, issuing two more walks to force in a second run.

The Bulldogs had two chances with the game-tying run at the plate. In the fifth, a single and walk had Union in business with one out. Corbin would escape unharmed after a double-play lineout kept Union off the board.

After Cooper gave the Cougars breathing room with an RBI double in the sixth, Union had one last rally left. Two singles brought the top of the Bulldog order and the potential tying run to the plate in Alyssa Ward. Showing her composure, Corbin got Ward to pop-up a 2-0 pitch to third base to finish off the win.

Cooper (1-for-4, 2B, RBI), Ambrose (1-for-3, run), Vincent (1-for-1, RBI), and JoJo Beyer (1-for-2, run, 2B) all recorded hits in the game.

Up Next

Columbus State will close out the 2020 Cougar Classic with a pair of games on Sunday. CSU will first take on Queens at 1:30 p.m. before a tilt against Coker at 3:45 p.m.

Cougar Notes & Trends

• Columbus State has won four straight and is 5-1 at Cougar Field this season.
• Over the past four games, Vincent is 8-for-9 with six RBIs. She has hit safely in every game she has started this season.
• With her walk in the fifth, Elston has now reached base in 34 straight games dating back to 2019.
• The Cougars left nine runners on-base on Saturday. 
• CSU was 0-for-5 with the bases loaded. 
• Over her last two starts, Corbin is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings. 
• Columbus State is 2-1 this season against Union.