COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University softball team pushed its winning streak to six games on Saturday following a doubleheader sweep over Shorter University at Cougar Field.
The Cougars (10-4) had a comfortable 6-2 win to begin the day before a walkoff single by Lindsey Patton gave the hosts a 4-3 win in game two.
GAME 1 (CSU 6-2)
Columbus State took advantage on the base paths and flashed the leather in game one.
The Cougars got on the board in the bottom of the first as Hannah Rose Corbin scored on a throwing error by the Hawks catcher on a double-steal attempt with Morgan Elston on first.
In the second, CSU added another single run. Caitlyn Canady beat out a two-out infield single to allow Kirstin Reynolds to cross the plate.
Shorter came back with solo runs in the third and fourth. Sydney Poston ripped an RBI single in the third, while Kaleigh George had a sacrifice fly in the fourth to tie the game at two.
However, Columbus State rallied in their half of the fourth as the Cougars sent 10 hitters to the plate. It all started when Corbin led off the inning, cranking a triple to right field. Katelyn Cooper was hit by a pitch to follow before the speedster put pressure on Shorter's defense. With Elston at-bat, Cooper took off for second, forcing a throw. That would allow Corbin to cross the plate to put CSU back in front.
After CSU loaded the bases, Kirstin Reynolds ripped a two-out double to right field to add to the lead. Back-to-back walks, including one by Laura Harris with the bases reloaded, scored the final run of the frame.
That would be all Corbin needed in the circle. The second-year sophomore didn't allow a Hawk to reach second during the final three innings, including striking out the side in the sixth.
The two-way threat recorded her second win of the season while also going 1-for-2 with the solo home and two walks at the plate.
Cooper (2-for-3) had two hits, with Reynolds driving in a pair with her bases-loaded double. She also drew two walks.
Madison Pettigrew (2-2) received her second loss of the year after allowing six runs (four earned) on four hits. The righty walked nine CSU hitters.
GAME 2 (CSU 4-3)
The second game played out a little differently as the Hawks rallied in the top of the seventh, forcing the Cougars' dramatics in the bottom half of the frame.
CSU jumped on Shorter early, scoring a run in the first and second. Canady manufactured a run after drawing a one-out walk. The second-yeard freshman would proceed to steal second before moving to third on a single by Cooper. Elston capitalized on the RBI chance by lofting a sacrifice fly to left during the next at-bat.
Cougar starter Harley Dawson worked herself out of a bases-loaded jam in the second, and the offense rewarded her with another run a half-inning later. Maddie Dodson picked up a single to score Harris from second. Harris began it all by reaching base via a hit-by-pitch and got into scoring position with a steal.
Both teams went scoreless up until the bottom of the fifth when Corbin hit a solo shot over the center field fence to make it 3-0.
Dawson pitched five innings before Riley Patton replaced her in the circle. After a quick sixth, the transfer struggled to find the zone in the seventh. A walk with the bases loaded forced home the first SU run, while a two-out error tied the game at three. Corbin would get the final out of the inning to leave three Hawks stranded on the base paths.
In the bottom of the seventh, singles by Corbin and Canady along with a Cooper walk quickly loaded the bases for the Cougars with no outs. However, Shorter got a critical 5-2-3 double play to stay alive.
Freshman Lindsey Patton would step to the plate in the pressure-filled situation looking to send the Cougars home winners. On a 1-1 pitch, the lefty pulled a single through the infield to bring home Canady for the game-winning run.
Corbin registered her second win of the day to improve to 3-2. The third-year sophomore was 2-for-4 at the plate with her solo homer.
Cooper picked up two more hits, while Canady was 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base.
Dawson pitched well but didn't factor into the decision. The senior tossed five shutout innings.
Columbus State will prepare for a showdown with Division I Mercer University on Wednesday, March 3. The doubleheader will take place in Macon, Ga. beginning at 5 p.m.
