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Softball Hailey Franklin

Softball Runs Past GSW to Clinch First Conference Sweep of the Season

A powerful offensive drives the Cougars to a 13-3 and 15-5 victory over Georgia Southwestern.

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 AMERICUS, Ga. - The Columbus State University softball team run-ruled Georgia Southwestern 13-3 and 15-5 Saturday afternoon to secure the series sweep. The wins move the Cougars to an overall record of 8-9 (3-0 PBC), while the Hurricanes fall to 7-10 (0-3 PBC). 

Game One - CSU 13, GSW 3

In the second game of the series, the first game of the day, the Cougars defeated Georgia Southwestern 13-3 by run rule. Columbus State totaled eight hits, with senior Brooke Miller hitting her fifth home run of the season and going 3-for-4 with five RBIs. 

Jessica Lopez (3-1) earned the win after throwing the first 3.2 innings and surrendering only five hits, three runs, with three strikeouts. Julianna Franklin came in relief for the Cougars and finished the game throwing 1.1 innings with no hits and one strikeout. 

How It Happened

After a scoreless first, Columbus State got off to a strong start in the top of the second with a Brooke Miller single to right center, driving in Katelyn Cooper for the first run of the game. Nova Wright followed up with a double down the left field line, bringing in Miller and extending their lead to 2-0. Laura Harris added another run with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Wright. 

Georgia Southwestern fought back in the second inning after a hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in a Hurricane for their first run of the game.

The Cougars added to their lead in the third inning when Miller homered to center field, bringing in Cooper for two more runs.

In the fourth inning, the Hurricanes rallied after a triple down the left field line, driving in two, cutting CSU's lead to 5-3.

However, Columbus State pulled away in the top of the fifth inning with a series of runs. Miller doubled to left field, bringing in Ansley Collins and Anna Waites, and advanced Cooper to third base. 

Wright then reached first base on an error by the third baseman, which allowed Cooper to score another run. 

Madison Norrell singled through the left side, driving in Caitlyn Canady. By the end of the fifth inning, Columbus State University had taken a commanding lead over Georgia Southwestern after scoring eight runs on two hits, two errors, and multiple walks, making the score 13-3. 

Game Two - CSU 15, GSW 5

Senior Katelyn Cooper hit two home runs in the game, with one solo shot and one grand slam to help the Columbus State softball team defeat Georgia Southwestern, 15-5, in the last game of their three-game opening Peach Belt Conference series. 

As a team, the Cougars hit five home runs and tallied nine hits. Laura Harris, Brooke Miller, and Lindsey Patton were the other three Cougars who sent one over the fence. 

Julianna Franklin claimed her first win as a Cougar in the circle after 4.0 innings pitched and only allowing three hits and two runs.

How It Happened

The Hurricanes struck first in the bottom of the first inning, scoring one run off one hit. 

CSU responded when Harris launched her first home run of the season over the right field wall, driving in Miller, who was walked to put Columbus State up 2-1 in the top of the second. 

Georgia Southwestern answered,  hitting a home run for themselves in the bottom of the second to put them on top with a 3-2 lead going into the top of the third. 

Patton and Cooper each hit solo home runs in the bottom of the third, bringing the lead back in favor of the Cougars, 4-3 going into the bottom of the third. 

The Cougars offense ignited in the top of the fourth, scoring seven runs off four hits, including a grand slam from Cooper and a two-run homer from Miller. After the hitting fest, the score read 11-3, Columbus State lead, heading into the bottom of the fourth. 

After a scoreless bottom of four from the Canes, Columbus State was up to bat again, driving in three more runs off two hits, including a pinch hit single from Gracyn Gurley and Patton. 

The Canes could only drive in two more runs off two hits in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Cougars the 15-5 run-rule victory. 

UP NEXT 
The Columbus State softball team will travel to Rome, Ga. for a doubleheader with Shorter University starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
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Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Canady

#1 Caitlyn Canady

OF/LHP
5' 7"
Junior
L/L
Katelyn Cooper

#16 Katelyn Cooper

OF
5' 7"
Junior
L/R
Laura Harris

#22 Laura Harris

OF/INF
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Jessica Lopez

#30 Jessica Lopez

RHP
5' 6"
Junior
R/R
Brooke Miller

#27 Brooke Miller

2B/RHP
5' 7"
Junior
R/R
Lindsey Patton

#11 Lindsey Patton

OF
5' 10"
Junior
L/R
Ansley Collins

#6 Ansley Collins

UTL
5' 7"
Freshman
L/R
Anna Waites

#7 Anna Waites

OF
5' 11"
Freshman
R/R
Nova Wright

#10 Nova Wright

C
5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
Julianna Franklin

#21 Julianna Franklin

LHP
5' 11"
Junior
L/R

Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Canady

#1 Caitlyn Canady

5' 7"
Junior
L/L
OF/LHP
Katelyn Cooper

#16 Katelyn Cooper

5' 7"
Junior
L/R
OF
Laura Harris

#22 Laura Harris

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
OF/INF
Jessica Lopez

#30 Jessica Lopez

5' 6"
Junior
R/R
RHP
Brooke Miller

#27 Brooke Miller

5' 7"
Junior
R/R
2B/RHP
Lindsey Patton

#11 Lindsey Patton

5' 10"
Junior
L/R
OF
Ansley Collins

#6 Ansley Collins

5' 7"
Freshman
L/R
UTL
Anna Waites

#7 Anna Waites

5' 11"
Freshman
R/R
OF
Nova Wright

#10 Nova Wright

5' 9"
Freshman
R/R
C
Julianna Franklin

#21 Julianna Franklin

5' 11"
Junior
L/R
LHP