COLUMBUS - In its final tuneup before Peach Belt Conference play begins, the Columbus State University softball team split a doubleheader with Montevallo on Tuesday. The games took place at Cougar Field in Columbus.

Montevallo (14-9) took game one 14-2 in six innings before the Cougars won the nightcap 4-2 behind a superb pitching performance from Harley Dawson. 

"We had that one bad inning again in game one," stated head coach Brad Huskisson. "There were a few plays in the sixth that we should've made, and Montevallo made us pay for those mistakes."

"Harley was excellent, and we needed that from her. We got some timely hits late, including that key two-out hit from Mary [Horne] to put as in front in the fourth."

Game One

It was a scoreless game after two innings of play in game one before each side got on the board in the third. After the first two Falcons reached against Hannah Rose Corbin, the sophomore looked to be working her way out of trouble with back-to-back outs. However, a hard comebacker that Corbin couldn't corral put UM ahead.

Columbus State (11-9) wasn't behind long though. With Katelyn Cooper on first and two-outs, Elyse Ambrose launched a two-run homer over the right-centerfield wall to give CSU a 2-1 lead.

The Falcons put a four-spot on the board in the fourth before securing the win with nine runs in the sixth. Two Cougar errors helped contribute to Montevallo's efforts in the fourth while the Falcons' bats awoke in the final inning of play. Two, two-run singles before a three-run home run from Brooke Ingram made it 14-2. 

Ambrose (1-for-3, 2-run HR), Madeline Parker (1-for-3), and Paige Vincent (1-for-2) were the only Cougars to record hits in the game. 

Corbin (5-4) took the loss allowing 11 earned runs on 14 hits. 

Game Two

The Cougars got down early in the nightcap with Montevallo going in front 1-0 after two innings of play. 

The Falcons carried all the momentum into the second after Mabry Norris stranded Caitlyn Canady at third, who led the bottom of the first off with a triple down the right-field line. Haley Barnett would then make the Cougars pay with a leadoff homer to straightaway center to put the guest ahead in the second.

Both pitching staffs kept the opposing hitters at bay over the next few innings until UM reliever Madison Morgan ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan quickly loaded the bases with three free passes bringing up pinch-hitter Corbin to the plate. 

Morgan was able to retire Corbin, but Mary Horne delivered with two outs for the Cougars. The senior chopped a single up the middle scoring pinch-runners Kristen Odum and Madisyn Brown. 

The Cougars looked to add on in the fifth after Canady's second triple of the night. This time, CSU didn't squander the chance with Morgan Elston picking up an RBI single to left to put CSU in front 3-1. 

After getting shutdown innings in the fourth and fifth, Dawson allowed a solo homer in the sixth to Carlee Mullinax as Montevallo pulled within one.

Needing an insurance run, Columbus State went to work. With one out, Emily Holmes poked a single to left-center and moved to second following a fielding error. Holmes advanced to third on a wild pitch before a Canady single pushed the score to 4-2.

Montevallo made things interesting in the seventh against Dawson bringing the tying run to the plate with two outs. However, the senior got a fly out to secure the Cougar victory.

In the complete game, Dawson struck out eight, limiting Montevallo to just four hits. She allowed two runs while issuing three walks.

Canaday (3-for-4, 2 3B's, RBI) and Horne (2-for-3, 2 RBIs) drove in three of CSU's four runs.

Up Next

Columbus State will see its first look at Peach Belt Conference competition in 2020 as USC Aiken visits Cougar Field on Thursday, March 12. The doubleheader will begin at 3 p.m. and will be Little League Day at Columbus State. In-between games on Thursday, the Cougars will be signing autographs for all children in attendance.

Cougar Trends & Notes

• With the loss in game one, Columbus State's five-game winning streak was snapped.
• However, the Cougars have won 12 of their last 16 games.
• Canady has recorded three hits in three different games since last Friday.
• Dawson has now struck out a season-high eight batters in three games in 2020.
• The three hits in game one for Columbus State tied a season-low.
• Paris Poston's career-high nine-game hitting streak came to an end on Tuesday.
• It was Corbin's first home loss in the circle in her last six appearances in Columbus.