COLUMBUS - On the opening day of the 2020 CSU Classic, the Columbus State University softball team split a pair of games on Saturday. The five-team event is being hosted by CSU at Cougar Field.

The Cougars (1-5) began the day with a 9-6 victory over Bellarmine before dropping a 9-4 decision to Union. 

"We made too many mental mistakes out there today," commented head coach Brad Huskisson. "We were playing under tough conditions, but so was the other team."

"Plenty of positive signs though. We swung the bat well and we are looking forward to capping off the weekend tomorrow."

Game One - vs. Bellarmine

With the rain falling down, the Cougar offense quickly went on the attack. Back-to-back walks got things started for CSU in the bottom of the first before Maddie Dodson put the first one on the board with a single.

After Harley Dawson retired her sixth hitter in a row to begin the game, Columbus State stretched its lead to 3-0. Emily Holmes pushed Paige Vincent into scoring position with a one-out single to bring Katelyn Cooper to the plate. The Columbus native continued the rally, roping a double into the left-centerfield gap to score Vincent. Following a pitching change, Morgan Elston made it 3-0 with an RBI single to left.

Bellarmine (2-3) scored a single run in the third, but that was all of the scoring until the fifth. It was Elston again, this time with a double, getting on base to set things up for the middle of the order. After a groundout moved Elston to third, Dodson drove in her second run of the day with a double. CSU failed to add on from there allowing Bellarmine a chance for a comeback.

Three hits and two errors contributed to two Bellarmine runs in the sixth to make it a one-run game. However, Columbus State tried to put the game away in their half of the inning. A pinch-hit single by Kristen Odum and two walks loaded the bases for the hot-swinging Dodson. The sophomore continued her great game, picking up her second double of the day to push the CSU lead to 6-3. A throwing error pushed another run across for the Cougars while Vincent capped off the scoring with an RBI double down the left-field line.

It wasn't easy for the Cougars to close out the game in the seventh as Bellarmine got a three-run two-out double to make it a 9-6 ballgame. The Knights didn't stop there, drawing two walks to bring the potential game-winning run to the plate. However, CSU reliever Haley Glass was able to get a groundout to short for the win.

Dodson was 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs in the game to pace Columbus State's offense. Elston (2-for-2, 2 runs, 2B, RBI) also had a multi-hit day. 

Dawson (1-2) was good in the circle on Saturday to record the win. The senior toss six innings allowing three hits while not issuing a walk. The Knights got six hits off the righty.

Game Two - Union

It was a rough opening inning for Columbus State starter Hannah Rose Corbin in her season debut, but two errors didn't help the cause. The Bulldogs got only one hit in the first but scored three to put CSU in an early hole.

The Cougar bats were up for the challenge in the second and third as CSU took a 4-3 lead. With two-outs, a Union error extended the inning for Kirstin Reynolds. Reynolds came up clutch with a single through the left side of the infield to make it 3-2.

In the third, it was the long ball that did the damage. Cooper drew a walk to lead things off before Elston cranked her first homer of the season to left-center to give Columbus State the lead. 

After a scoreless fourth, it was Union's time to put two on the scoreboard. Walks once again hurt CSU while a squeeze also brought in a run. A two-out double put the Bulldogs back on top 5-4. 

Columbus State couldn't get anything going at the plate over the final three innings. Paris Poston was the only Cougar to record a hit over the late innings of the game. 

Union slammed the door shut CSU's comeback hopes with a four-run seventh capped off by a three-run homer.

Corbin (0-1) took the loss allowing five runs, three earned, on four hits. She issued five walks but punched out four. 

At the plate, Elston drove in two with her two-run home run in the third while Reynolds was 1-for-3 with a two-run single.

Up Next

Columbus State will continue to play in the 2020 CSU Classic on Sunday. CSU will play a rematch against Union at 2 p.m. before closing out the event with a game against Shorter at 6 p.m.

Cougar Trends

• Elston continued to swing a hot bat on Saturday. Through six games, she is hitting .529 with three extra-base hits. She has also drawn five walks for an on-base percentage of .636.

• Elston has reached base in 30 straight games dating back to last season.

• Cooper, Elston, Dodson, Vincent all had doubles in the first game against Bellarmine. CSU hit a season-high five over the course of the win.

• CSU's pitching staff has issued six or more walks in three games this season.

• Vincent has recorded a hit in every game she has started this season. The freshman went a combined 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a double on Saturday.