GREENWOOD, S.C. - It was a little more dramatic than planned, but the Columbus State University softball team is in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals after a 6-5 walk-off win over Flagler College on Saturday. The tournament is being hosted by Lander University at Doug Spears Field.

The Cougars (29-23) held a 5-1 lead heading into the seventh when the Saints finally got to starter Hannah Rose Corbin. A double and a walk mixed between a grounder started the inning for FC before things spiraled on CSU.

Alyssa Velez ripped a double into the right-centerfield gap before the big blow came from Madelyn Childs. The freshman tied the game with a three-run homer over the left-field wall to erase CSU's lead. 

After Corbin worked out of the inning, the Cougar offense went to work. Laura Harris drew a leadoff walk before pinch-hitter Lindsey Patton sacrificed her to second to immediately put pressure on Flagler's defense. FC's defense faltered on a Katelyn Cooper grounder to third, setting up a first-and-third situation for the top of the CSU order.

Caitlyn Canady worked the count in her favor until slapping a ball to second. The throw went home, but it wasn't in time, allowing Harris to score the game-winning run.

"It wasn't how we drew it up, but a win during this point in the year is all that matters," commented head coach Brad Huskisson. "Tomorrow is an important day and coming out with momentum is going to be key."

Columbus State jumped on Flagler starter Madelyn Wise early with two first-inning runs. Kenzie Bayer drove home Corbin, who got the rally started with a one-out double, before a bases-loaded walk forced home another Cougar run.

Flagler scored an unearned run in the second on a two-out Cougar error, but CSU pushed the margin back to two in the bottom of the third.

After Corbin stranded two Flagler runners on in the fourth, Columbus State attempted to put the game away with late-inning insurance runs. In the fifth, the four Cougars reached with Morgan Elston knocking home a run on a double down the left-field line. CSU tacked on another one in the sixth on a Paige Vincent single. 

Columbus State was within two outs from a victory in the seventh until the furious rally by Flagler. 

Corbin was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored, while tossing a complete game to pick up her 18th win in the circle. She struck out six and worked around nine hits.

UP NEXT
The second-seeded Cougars take on tournament host and third-seeded Lander at 12:30 p.m. in the PBC Tournament semifinals. The winner advances to Sunday's championship game immediately following the conclusion of the game between CSU and LU. 

GAME NOTES
• Five Cougars had at least two hits (Corbin, Vincent, Bayer, Madeline Parker, Elston)
• The two teams combined to leave 19 runners on base (CSU 10, LU 9)
• Corbin has reached base in 14 straight games
• Harris was 0-for-1 officially, but drove in two runs and walked twice 
• A win puts Columbus State into the program's 12th PBC Tournament championship game