COLUMBUS, GA. – Columbus State University softball split the final two games of the series on Saturday afternoon.
The Lady Cougars lost 1-7 in game one and won the second game 7-3 to take home the series win. CSU moves to a 24-11(5-4 PBC) record while USC Aiken moves to a 14-18(3-9 PBC) record.
Columbus State 1, USC Aiken 7
USC Aiken opened the game with an early 2-0 lead after a triple and a single brought in two runs. CSU struggled offensively and was unable to bring home two runners in the third inning after Ella Hopper and Mary-Catherine Sorrell landed on base.
Two home runs in the third inning put the Pacers up 5-0. In the fifth, Hopper produced another hit, but the Lady Cougars continued to struggle at the plate and left her stranded.
Two doubles and a single from the Pacers in the sixth inning gave them two more runs for a 7-0 lead. CSU finally got a run on the board in the seventh inning. Anna Waites produced a single followed by a double from Aubree Ussery. Waites was brought in for the run after Hopper recorded her third hit of the game.
Quick Hits
- USC Aiken led with thirteen hits as CSU recorded five hits. Hopper led with three hits for the Lady Cougars.
- Eight different Pacers recorded hits for USC Aiken with four producing at least two hits.
- CSU led with eight strikeouts as USC Aiken had five.
- Lily Miller(9-2) took her second loss of the season after tossing for three innings with six hits, five runs, three strikeouts, and zero walks.
- Khloe Shears saw action on the mound as she tossed for three innings with seven hits, two runs, two strikeouts, and one walk.
Game Two - Columbus State 7, USC Aiken 3
Gracyn Gurley opened the game with her second home run of the season. A double to right field from Anna Waites followed by a single from Madison McDonald brought in the Lady Cougars' second run. A sacrifice fly from Izzy Rippati allowed Waites to come home and secure a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
In the second inning, Hopper opened with a base hit to left field. Nova Wright ripped a single to center field, allowing Hopper to come home for the fourth run. The Pacers struggled for several innings as Julianna Franklin was on the mound tossing three strikeouts in the first three innings.
The Pacers broke through in the fourth inning after three hits led to two runs. In the fifth inning, the Lady Cougars added two more runs after Hopper scored an unearned run and Sorrell produced a double to eventually come home off an error by the Pacers.
A home run from Nova Wright put the Lady Cougars up 7-3 in the seventh inning.
Quick Hits
- CSU led with ten hits with two being home runs from Gurley and Wright.
- Wright led with three hits followed by Hopper with two.
- Seven different Cougars produced hits to contribute to the 7-3 win.
- CSU left twelve runners on base while USC Aiken left just four runners.
- Franklin picked up the win after she tossed for seven innings with six strikeouts, six hits, three runs, and zero walks.
Next Up
- Columbus State will travel to Montgomery Al on March 25th to face Auburn-Montgomery for a Tuesday doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. ET.
