AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Columbus State University softball team split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader against Augusta University on Friday.
CSU won the opener 4-3 to extend its winning streak to eight games before falling 10-1 in five-innings in game two. The Cougars are now 18-9 and 5-3 in PBC play, while the Jaguars sit at 9-19 and 3-9 in conference action.
GAME 1: CSU 4-3
The opening game on Friday was scoreless through the first three innings until Columbus State scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning thanks to solo home runs from Hannah Rose Corbin and Morgan Elston.
The Cougars extended their lead to three in the top of the sixth. Katelyn Cooper walked and advanced to third on a Corbin single up the middle. Second-year freshman Paige Vincent followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Cooper.
The Jaguars tied the game in the bottom of the sixth off of two hits and an error. Olivia Biles reached to lead things off on a costly error, which haunted CSU later as Summer Frye ripped a game-tying three-run homer down the left-field line.
Columbus State bounced back in the seventh to steal the victory from Augusta. With two outs, Madeline Parker cranked a triple to right field that brought up freshman slugger Laura Harris. Harris beat out an infield single to short to score the go-ahead run.
Corbin only had to face four batters in the bottom of the seventh to grab her ninth win in the circle. The righty pitched a complete game to improve to 9-4 on the year after striking 11. She allowed just three hits throughout the game.
Corbin and Elston led CSU with two hits at the plate. Caitlyn Canady's hitting streak was snapped at 21 games tying the program record.
GAME 2: AU 10-1
The Jaguars struck first in the bottom in the opening inning with a single up the middle from Amina Wood.
However, it was the third inning when Augusta did most of its damage. A double and two singles chased CSU starter Harley Dawson from the game before Madelyn Libby ripped AU's second double of the inning to make it 5-0. An error later in the inning allowed two more runs to cross the plate.
Elston scored the only run for the Cougars in the top of the fourth as the second-year sophomore cranked her second solo homer of the day.
Lindsey South extended Augusta's lead to 10-1 on a three-run homer to left field in the fourth before Augusta closed out the mercy-rule victory.
UP NEXT
Columbus State returns to Cougar Field on Tuesday, April 6 with a doubleheader against Spring Hill College.
