COLUMBUS - Morgan Elston hit three home runs, including a grand slam, while collecting seven RBIs in a Cougar 10-8 loss to the No. 9 and Peach Belt Conference rival University of North Georgia. Columbus State falls to 9-9 (2-1 PBC) and North Georgia improves to 15-8 (1-2 PBC).

CSU won the three-game series as the Cougars took two from the Nighthawks on Saturday.

After a three-up, three-down inning by CSU starting pitcher Jessica Lopez, Elston jacked a bases-loaded, two-out grand slam over the right-center field fence to put the Cougars ahead 4-0.

Both teams were scoreless through the second until UNG's Madison Simmons and CSU's Laura Harris both ripped solo homers in the third inning. The two home runs made it 5-1 game heading into the fourth.

After Lopez started the fourth with a leadoff walk, head coach Brad Huskisson sent Hannah Rose Corbin to the mound from the bullpen. Corbin gave up a two-run home run from Hannah Forehand, minimizing the Cougars' lead to 5-3.

Columbus State got one run back in the bottom of the fifth thanks to another Elston bomb over the left field fence, making it a 6-3 ballgame.

The Nighthawks rallied in the sixth, scoring four runs off of four hits and two walks. UNG got the best of CSU with critical singles and heads up base running to put the Nighthawks ahead 7-6 going into the seventh.

Haylee Folds entered the circle in the top of the seventh, but that pitching change didn't faze North Georgia as the Nighthawks added three more runs. UNG made it 8-6 from a defensive error, then made it 10-6 thanks to a two-run RBI double by Olivia Sinquefield.

Down by four heading into their final at bats, the Cougars were able to plate two more runs as Elston cranked her third homer of the game, this one being a two-run shot as Harris got on with a single to center. Columbus State had some hope as Brooke Miller got on first with a pinch-hit walk and Katelyn Cooper followed with a single to center. However, CSU came up short.

Elston led CSU going 3-for-4 with three homers, three runs scored and seven RBIs. Harris went 2-for-4 with one homer, three runs scored and one RBI. Vincent, Corbin, Cooper and Bayer each added one hit.

Corbin (7-3) earned the loss inside the circle after allowing five runs and five hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Up Next
The Cougars will travel to Mobile, Ala. on Wednesday, March 9 for a non-conference matchup against Mississippi College starting at 5 p.m.