Game One
COLUMBUS — The Columbus State University Softball team opened its Peach Belt Conference series with a 6–5 victory over Middle Georgia State University on Saturday afternoon at Cougar Field in game one of a doubleheader.
Columbus State struck first in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on an early offensive surge.
Anna Waites delivered the game's biggest swing, launching a three-run home run to center field to score
Aubree Ussery and
Emmie Jones and give the Cougars an early 3-0 advantage.
The Cougars scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning, reclaiming control with a three-run frame.
Carlee Wilson drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single, while
Ansley Collins and
Aubree Ussery followed with RBI singles of their own to extend the lead to 6-3.
Middle Georgia mounted a late push in the top of the seventh inning, cutting the deficit to one on a two-run home run by Mel Bullock. However, Columbus State held on defensively to secure the one-run victory.
At the plate, the Cougars totaled eight hits, led by Ussery's 3-for-3 performance with an RBI and a run scored. Collins added two hits and an RBI, while Waites finished with three RBI's on her first-inning home run.
In the circle, junior
Khloe Shears (10-2) earned the win after tossing another complete-game effort. She allowed five runs on seven hits while striking out six batters across seven innings.
Game Two
COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Columbus State University Softball team completed a Saturday doubleheader sweep of Middle Georgia State University with a 4-2 victory in game two of a Peach Belt Conference series at Cougar Field. With the win, the Cougars improved to 17-9 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while Middle Georgia fell to 6-14 overall and 1-7 in the PBC.
Middle Georgia struck first in the top of the first inning, taking a 1-0 lead on a fielder's choice RBI by Mel Bullock. Columbus State answered in the bottom half of the inning as
Nova Wright delivered an RBI triple to center field, scoring
Aubree Ussery to even the game at 1-1.
The Cougars took control in the third inning, capitalizing on timely execution to plate two runs. Wright scored on a wild pitch following a walk by
Anna Waites to give Columbus State a 2-1 advantage. Later in the inning,
Abrianna Green added an RBI single to extend the lead to 3-1.
Columbus State added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Ussery singled up the middle to drive in
Gracyn Gurley, pushing the lead to 4-1.
Middle Georgia made a late push in the seventh inning, as Bullock hit a solo home run to right-center to cut the deficit to 4-2. But the Cougar defense held firm to secure the victory.
The Cougars recorded seven hits in the contest, led by Wright's 3-for-4 performance with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. Ussery added two hits and an RBI, while Green also contributed an RBI single.
In the circle,
Lily Miller (5-5) earned the complete-game victory, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits while issuing seven walks and recording two strikeouts across seven innings.
Columbus State will conclude the three-game Peach Belt Conference series against Middle Georgia State University on Sunday, March 22, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Cougar Field.
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