COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with the 16th-ranked University of West Florida on Wednesday at Cougar Field in Columbus.

The Cougars (17-15) took game one 1-0 behind a complete-game shutout from Hannah Rose Corbin, while two six-run innings from West Florida helped the Argonauts take the nightcap 12-8.

"We just had two bad innings today, but those cost us a win," commented head coach Brad Huskisson. "You can never take an inning off, especially against teams with the talent as UWF, and have to always play with a sense of urgency."

Game 1 | CSU 1, UWF 0
It wasn't all easy for Corbin in the circle in game one with West Florida constantly threatening. 

In the opening inning, UWF had two runners on when Erin Moon laced a single to left field with two outs. West Florida looked for the early run, sending Kayla Mayo to the plate. However, a great throw by Lindsey Patton cut her down, keeping the game scoreless.  

Corbin had to work out of a two-on, no-out jam in the second after a walk and an error put the Cougars in a mess. The righty zoned in, getting two strikeouts and a groundout to escape the jam.  

After West Florida stranded two more in the third, it was CSU's time to get the bats going in the bottom half of the inning. Caitlyn Canady set the tone with an out-out single, while an error on the play allowed the speedster to move into scoring position. Corbin helped herself with a single to put runners on the corners before Huskisson and the Cougars got crafty with Paige Vincent at the plate. On a 0-1 pitch, Vincent laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Canady and reach on a single without drawing a throw. 

Corbin had her lone perfect inning in the fourth, while a key 6-3-5 double play in the fifth helped the righty erase a runner from second in the fifth. 

UWF had one last rally in the seventh as Teala Howard kept the Argonauts alive with a two-out double. Mayo reached on an infield single, where Madeline Parker saved the tying run from scoring with a diving stop. CSU decided to pitch around Madelyn Vasquez to load the bases to face Jessica Ford with the game on the line. Corbin won the matchup, getting Ford to ground out to end the game.

Corbin picked up 11 strikeouts in her 13th complete game of the season. She scattered six hits and five walks to pick up her 13th win of the season.

Canady was 2-for-3 with a run.

Game 2 | UWF 12, CSU 8
West Flordia (19-8) began game two just like the first one, threatening in both the first and second innings. However, CSU starter Jessica Lopez worked out of the troubles, stranding four UWF runners in the two innings.

Morgan Elston made things simple for the Cougars in the second, sending her 10th homer of the year over the left-field wall to give CSU a 1-0 lead.

Folds put two more zeros on the board and allowed the Cougar offense to go back to work in the fourth. Vincent started the inning with a single before a four-pitch walk by Elston put two on. Madeline Parker moved both up on a sacrifice bunt, but it didn't matter as Kenzie Bayer launched a three-run homer in the next at-bat to give Columbus State a 4-0 lead. 

Things went south from there though, as West Florida started playing home run derby. A three-run homer from Mayo and then a solo shot from Vasquez tied things at four.

Kelsey Hodges hit the third homer in the frame, a two-run shot, that put the Argonauts 6-4.

West Florida pilled on six more in the seventh to take a commanding 12-4 advantage. Doubles were the enemy of Columbus State in the inning, as the Argos hit four in the inning, including Hodges driving in two more. 

Columbus State put a scare into UWF in the seventh, but a four-run rally wasn't enough. Parker hit a three-run homer into the comeback attempt, while Elston drove home another run on a single. 

Bayer and Parker both drove in three with their homers, while Elston was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Folds took the loss in the circle after allowing eight runs (seven earned) in the 3-inning relief appearance. Lopez allowed four runs in four innings. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State heads on the road to Greenwood, S.C. for a three-game set with Lander University. The Peach Belt Conference series begins on Friday, April 1 at 5 p.m.