YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. - After numerous schedule changes due to rain, snow, and coldness, the Columbus State University softball team got back on the field on Saturday splitting a pair of games over the first day of the Young Harris College Tournament. The tournament is being held at E.D. Rivers Field in Young Harris, Ga.

In the first game of the day, the Cougars dropped a 9-3 decision to No. 19 Trevecca Nazarene before CSU rebounded for an 8-3 win over Catawba.

"We were right there in the first game," added head coach Brad Huskisson. "We just let it slipped away in the fifth with all of those walks."

"It was nice to see the offense get going against Catawba. They already had beaten us twice, so we wanted some payback. It would be nice to grab two more wins tomorrow to head back to Columbus above .500."

Up Next 

Columbus State will close out the weekend with games against Shorter (4:30 p.m.) and No. 8 Lincoln Memorial (7 p.m.). Both games will take place at E.D. Rivers Field in Young Harris.

vs. Trevecca Nazarene

Columbus State jumped out to an early 3-0 lead over the 19th-ranked team in the nation. Following singles by Katelyn Cooper and Elyse Ambrose in the top of the first, Madeline Parker ripped a double down the left-field line to put the Cougars on the board.

In the third, a two-out rally pushed across a run. Parker again peppered the left-field line for a single before a Paige Vincent base hit to center. Needing to find a way on, Maddie Dodson put the ball in play forcing a fielding error allowing Parker to cross the plate.

Three doubles by Trevecca Nazarene in the third ended Hannah Rose Corbin's attempt at a shutout as the Trojans scored a pair, however, the major damage came in the fifth.

Trevecca Nazarene took the lead with six runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to five walks and a Cougar error. CSU walked in two runs while another pair crossed the plate via wild pitches.

The Cougars had chances in both the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to rally.

Corbin (2-2) took the loss allowing eight runs over 4.2 innings of work. 

Cooper (2-for-4, run), Ambrose (2-for-4, run), Parker (2-for-4, run, 2 RBIs, 2B) and Mary Horne (2-for-3) all had multi-hit days at the plate.

vs. Catawba 

In the nightcap, the Cougars again jumped out in front with a pair of runs in the second but this time they were able to hold on to the lead.

After Harley Dawson pitched around two base runners in the top of the second, Emily Holmes doubled with one out to get things started for the Cougars. Following a strikeout, Paris Poston reached first on an infield single before swiping second. Horne continued her great night at the plate for CSU, singling to score both Holmes and Poston.

Dawson began settling in striking out five over the third and fourth allowing the Columbus State offense to add insurance runs.

Three straight singles with one out quickly loaded the bases for the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth. Huskisson would then make the move of the night sending pinch-hitter Caitlyn Canady to the plate. Canady delivered, hitting a two-run double to push the margin to 4-0. 

A wild pitch made it 5-0 while Morgan Elston legged out an infield hit to score Canady for the fourth run of the frame. Ambrose capped off the scoring with a two-run homer. 

Catawba finally got to Dawson the next inning. Two doubles and a walk helped the Indians score two to cut into the lead. In the sixth, Dawson was lifted for Corbin following a leadoff walk with the Indians scoring a single run off an RBI single by Bailey Benton.

Corbin slammed the door shut in the seventh to help Columbus State secure the win.

Dawson (4-2) picked up the win in the 5 inning outing. The senior allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Corbin tossed two scoreless innings in relief.

Canady (1-for-2, run, 2B. 2 RBIs), Ambrose (1-for-2, run, 2-run HR), and Horne (2-for-3, run, 2 RBIs) all drove in two for the Cougars.

Cougar Notes & Trends

• On Saturday, Horne was 4-for-6 while Ambrose was 3-for-6. 
• Horne has three multi-hit games for the Cougars. Only Elston (four) has more.
• It was the second time this season that Dawson struck out eight against Catawba. It's the third time the senior has reached her career-high in K's.
• Elston's streak of reaching base was snapped against Trevecca Nazarene. The sophomore set the program record by reaching base in 34 consecutive games. 
• Parker has reached base in all 12 games this season.
• Columbus State had a season-high 11 hits against Catawba.
• CSU's 8-3 win over Catawba was its first away from Columbus this year. Prior, Columbus State was 0-5 away from Cougar Field.