ALBERTVILLE, Ala. - The Columbus State University softball team kicked off President's Day weekend going 1-1 in the UAH Mini Classic in Albertville, Ala.
The Cougars (3-1) lost game one 8-0 to Alabama University Huntsville but rebounded to beat Mississippi College 4-2 in game two.
GAME 1 (#20 Alabama Huntsville 8-0)
CSU struggled at the plate against Alabama Huntsville's Layton Murphy as the team only collected two hits, both singles, coming from second-year freshman Caitlyn Canady (1-for-3) and true freshman Lindsey Patton (1-for-2). Patton's single was her first collegiate hit. Hannah Rose Corbin (1-1) got the loss on the mound allowing five runs in three innings of work.
UAH came out strong in the bottom of the third inning scoring five runs off of four hits. A two-run bases loaded single by Mackenzie Nutt made it 2-0 with the Chargers adding three more before the end of the inning.
In the fourth, a triple off of Cougar reliever Riley Patton made it 6-0 before UAH scored a pair in the fifth to grab the run-rule victory.
GAME 2 (CSU 4-2)
The Cougars bounced back in game two with a 4-2 win against Mississippi College with senior Harley Dawson (1-0) picking up her first win in the circle of the 2021 season. Canady and Kirstin Reynolds both went 2-for-3 while Elson was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run. L. Patton had a crucial late-inning pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth.
CSU came out hot in the first inning scoring two runs as Corbin and Canady reached to begin the game. The Cougars would then make the Choctaws pay for some shaky defensive play with Elston collecting an RBI off a sacrifice fly before Canady crossed the plate thanks to a passed ball.
MC responded in the third inning with one run, but the Cougars looked for insurance late in the game. In the fifth, Reynolds led off the frame with a single and later scored on a Canady fielder's choice.
It was the sixth inning that gave CSU some more room when L. Patton hit a pinch-hit single, scoring Elston who singled to get the inning started.
Things got interesting in the seventh as Mississippi College brought the tying run to the plate after an error extended the frame. However, Dawson got a comebacker to end the threat.
In the complete game effort, Dawson struck out seven.
Columbus State will play two more games on Sunday, Feb. 14 against Auburn University Montgomery at noon and Spring Hill College at 2 p.m. at AUM's Softball Complex.
