COLUMBUS - After losing two straight to Auburn University Montgomery on Saturday, the Cougar softball team was able to bounce back and get the sweep against Emmanuel College on Sunday. The doubleheader took place at Cougar Field.
Columbus State (6-4) took game one 7-5 and game two 4-2.
GAME 1 (CSU 7-5)
The Cougars wasted no time as they put runs on the board early. Freshman Lindsey Patton made it 2-0 with a two-run single up the middle, scoring Elston and Ambrose who both drew walks. However, Emmanuel tied the game at two in the top of the second with an RBI triple from Abbey Sims and an RBI single from Cara Knight.
CSU went scoreless in the bottom of the second, but the Lions took a two-run lead in the top of the third when Knight added two more RBIs with a double to left field, scoring Sims and Kaylan Pruit.
The Cougars responded in the next half-inning with a Caitlyn Canady solo home run to start the Cougar rally. Hannah Rose Corbin walked but got out at second from a fielder's choice by Elston. Ambrose drew her second walk of the game, putting CSU runners on first and second with junior Kirstin Reynolds at the plate. A wild pitch from the EC pitcher put Elston and Ambrose in scoring position. Reynolds collected an RBI after launching a deep sacrifice fly ball to right field, scoring Elston from third. Patton earned her third RBI from another single, which scored Ambrose making it a 5-4 ballgame.
It was Canady again in the fourth who put runs on the board. The second-year freshman tripled to left-center field which scored Katelyn Cooper from second base. Sydney Black replaced starting Lions' pitcher Dani Fairey, however, Elston was still able to perform as she hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field and scored Canady, collecting her first RBI of the day and giving CSU a three-run lead over Emmanuel.
The Lions added another run in the top of the sixth from two run-downs going on inside the base paths between first and second base, and third base and home. Brighton Harder was able to score from third (7-5 CSU), however, the inning ended when Jewels Ayers got out at second in her pickle.
Corbin earned her second win in the circle this season, making her season record 2-2, while Fairey got the loss.
Patton led CSU offensively as the freshman went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Canady also put on a show in Columbus as she also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and scored two runs. Ambrose drew three of the eight walks CSU had. Emily Holmes added a double for the Cougars, her third in her career.
GAME 2 (CSU 4-2)
Columbus State finished the day strong with a 4-2 victory over Emmanuel in game two. The Lions struck first in the top of the second thanks to an Ally Harris RBI single to center field, scoring Knight. The Cougars tied the game at one in the next half of the inning when Madeline Parker scored from third after Maddie Dodson got caught stealing second base.
Harris delivered again for Emmanuel when she homered to left field in the top of the fifth. However, the Cougars took the lead again with another Canady RBI-single to center field. The freshman ended up scoring off of an Ambrose sacrifice fly to right field.
Riley Patton earned her second win on the mound while Harley Dawson received her first save of the season. Kaitlyn Pickens got the loss for the Lions.
Canady finished game two going 2-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base. Dodson went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Ambrose, Cooper and Parker each added a hit for the Cougars.
Columbus State will travel to Fairfield, Ala. on Wednesday, Feb. 24 for a pair of games against Miles College. The first pitch will be at 2 p.m. eastern standard time.
