COLUMBUS - Head Columbus State University softball coach
Brad Huskisson collected his 400th career win at CSU on Friday as the Cougars swept a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader from Georgia Southwestern University at Cougar Field.
The Cougars took game one from the Hurricanes 5-0 to give 14th-year head coach
Brad Huskisson is milestone victory before run-ruling GSW 11-2 in the nightcap to earn the sweep on Senior Day. Huskisson becomes just the ninth coach in PBC history to reach the 400-win mark.
With the sweep, CSU improves to 30-11 and 14-4 inside the PBC. The Cougars close out their home portion of their schedule with an impressive 20-3 mark at Cougar Field.
GAME 1: CSU 5-0
Hannah Rose Corbin collected her 19th win of the season inside the circle as she threw six more scoreless innings. The reining PBC Pitcher of the Week struck out 11, while allowing just one hit and two walks.
The game was scoreless through fourth until Columbus State rallied to score five in the bottom of the fifth.
Paige Vincent led off the inning by reaching on an error and moved to second when
Madeline Parker got hit by a pitch. After a wild pitch moved pinch runner
Terra Odom to third and Parker to second, back-to-back singles from
Katelyn Cooper and Corbin made it a 2-0 ballgame.
Looking to do damage,
Morgan Elston wasted no time when she stepped into the box and ripped the third pitch she saw over the centerfield fence, giving the Cougars a 5-0 lead.
Corbin allowed just one hit over the final two innings, including punching out two hitters, to secure the victory.
Caitlyn Canady (1-for-3), Cooper (1-for-3, run, RBI), Corbin (1-for-2, run, RBI, BB) , Elston (1-for-3, 3-run HR) and Parker (1-for-1, 2B, HBP) all had one hit.
GAME 2: CSU 11-2 (5 inn.)
Georgia Southwestern (15-18, 6-12) snapped Corbin's scoreless inning streak at 23.2 innings with an unearned run in the first as Kayla Kerr scored on an error after reaching on a two-out double. However, the lead wouldn't last long as Columbus State answered with three runs in its half of the first.
Back-to-back one-out walks by Cooper and Corbin put runners on first and second for the hot-hitting Elston. The sophomore once again delivered, lacing a RBI single to left to tie the game. After another single, this one by Harris, loaded the bases, walks by
Lindsey Patton and
Grace Kiser put the Cougars in front.
In the second, Harris came up with her second hit of the day, ripping a single through the left side to score Canady to make it a 4-1 CSU lead.
Columbus State extended it's lead to five in the third thanks to a Cooper two-run single that platted Kiser and Parker who both walked.
The Cougars scored five runs off of five hits in the fourth to give them a commanding 11-1 lead. Elston and Harris cranked back-to-back singles, however Elston got thrown out at third on the play for the first out. L. Patton walked to put runners on first and second for Vincent, who singled to center to score Harris. Kiser loaded the bases with a walk before a deep sacrifice fly to right field by Parker pushed the margin to 8-1.
Canady extended the CSU lead to nine by crushing a two-run RBI triple to right field and later scored on a RBI single by Cooper.
The Hurricanes didn't quickly give in, loading the bases in the fifth off of reliever
Riley Patton. After walking a run in, Corbin returned to the mound and finished the off the game for CSU.
Corbin picked up another win to improve to 20-6. She struck out eight in 4.2 innings, while allowing just four hits. Corbin hasn't allowed an earned run in over 37 innings.
Harris led the Cougars going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, while also scoring a run. Cooper was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Elston finished the day 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored.
UP NEXT
Columbus State will play it's regular season finale in Dahlonega, Ga. on Sunday, May 2 with a PBC doubleheader against the University of North Georgia. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Haines and Carolyn Hill Stadium.
