COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University softball team scored a total of 20 runs in the sweep against Peach Belt Conference rival Flagler College.

The Cougars won 8-2 and 12-5, improving to 16-8 overall and 4-2 in the PBC with a six game winning streak. Flagler dropped to 8-12 overall and 2-4 in conference play.

GAME 1: 8-2 

The Saints crossed home plate first in their first at bats of the game when Kyleigh Taylor singled down the right field line to score NaJah Gerrald. The Cougars didn't waste any time, though, as CSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first.

The crushing C's made it happen in the Cougars' first at bats. Caitlyn Canady led off the inning with a walk, then advanced to third thanks to a double from Katelyn Cooper. The mighty Hannah Rose Corbin scored both Canady and Cooper when she singled to right field.

In the top of the second, Flagler tied the game at two with a bases loaded single to left field.

From there, it was all the Cougars. CSU scored three runs in the third to make it 6-2. Two walks and a Canady single loaded the bases for Corbin, who collected her second hit of the day as the second-year sophomore singled to right field again and added two more RBIs. Cooper came around to score when the shortstop committed an error off of a Paige Vincent ground ball. With bases loaded, Madeline Parker walked, scoring Corbin.

Columbus State's final runs came in the bottom of the fifth when Laura Harris jacked a two-run homer over the centerfield wall.

Corbin pitched all seven for the Cougars and picked up her seventh win, striking out 10. Kyra Gipson fell to 7-4 for the Saints.

Canady, Cooper and Corbin each had two hits, with Corbin collecting a team-high four RBIs. Harris hit her third career homer and finished with two RBIs.

GAME 2: 12-5

The Cougars struck first in the bottom of the first when a bases loaded single up the middle from Vincent scored Canady and Cooper. The Saints responded in the second by taking a 3-2 lead over CSU. Taylor led off the inning with a solo home run, then Flagler scored two more runs off of a sacrifice bunt and a single to first base.

Columbus State took a 4-3 lead in the next half of the inning when Cooper ripped a single down the left field line to score Harris and Canady.

Riley Patton came into the game in the top of the third to relieve starter Harley Dawson. Flagler quickly tied it at four with a solo homer from Alyssa Velez. The Cougars were able to get three outs to head to the plate.

Corbin led off the bottom of the third with a four-pitch walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. She advanced to third on a groundout to second base, then scored off of another wild pitch, taking a 5-4 lead.

Flagler tied it at five in the top of the fourth with two outs. Valerie Beltre reached on a fielding error by first base, stole second, then was able to score off of a single.

Corbin took the mound in the fifth and was able to shutout Flagler, allowing no more runs to cross the plate. This momentum was carried into the next half of the inning as the Cougars scored seven runs off of two hits and four errors. With Cooper and Corbin both walking, Vincent hit a ball to the second baseman who bobbled it and went into right fielder. Each runner was able to take another base as the right fielder misread it and the ball got past her, allowing Cooper to score off of the two errors.

Another error by the third baseman scored Corbin, making it 7-5. Flagler starter Madelyn Wise subbed out for by Mallorie Sykes who has only appeared in three games. Columbus State took advantage of Sykes and scored four more runs. With bases loaded, Grace Kiser collected her first RBI by walking in a run, then Parker smacked a two-run single to right center.

The last two runs came from a Canady RBI ground out to second base, scoring Kiser, and another bases-loaded walk.

Corbin earned her second win of the day in the circle, giving her an 8-4 record. Wise got the loss for Flagler, falling to 1-5.

Canady and Cooper each added two more hits, while Vincent went 1-for-3 with three RBIs and Parker 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will travel to Albany State University on Tuesday, March 30 for a non-conference doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.