Game One
COLUMBUS — The Columbus State University Softball team used a powerful offensive performance to defeat Emmanuel University, 9-4, in game one of Thursday's doubleheader at Cougar Field. With the victory, Columbus State improved to 9-5 overall on the season.
The Cougars recorded 11 hits, including five home runs, and erased an early deficit after Emmanuel plated four runs in the top of the third inning.
Columbus State opened the scoring in the second inning.
Holly Lynn delivered an RBI single through the left side that scored
Nova Wright, before
Abrianna Green followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home
Ella Hopper, giving the Cougars a 2-0 advantage.
Emmanuel responded in the top of the third, scoring four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Columbus State answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with a four-run outburst.
Anna Waites launched a three-run home run to left field, scoring
Aubree Ussery and
Kara Wegienka, while Wright added a solo home run to center field later in the inning to put the Cougars back in front, 6-4.
The Cougars continued to extend their lead in the fourth inning when Ussery connected on a solo home run to left field to make the score 7-4.
Columbus State added two more insurance runs in the sixth inning. Ussery hit her second home run of the game with a solo shot to left field, and Wright followed with another solo home run to left center, sealing the 9-4 victory.
Ussery and Wright led the offensive charge for Columbus State. Ussery finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two home runs, while Wright also went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two home runs. Waites contributed a three-run homer, and Lynn and Green each recorded an RBI.
In the circle,
Khloe Shears (4-1) earned the victory after delivering four scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out two.
Gracyn Gurley started the contest, pitching the first three innings and allowing four runs, none of which were earned, on four hits.
Game Notes:
- Columbus State recorded five home runs in the game.
- Ussery and Wright each hit two home runs.
- The Cougars finished with 11 hits and nine RBIs.
Game Two
COLUMBUS — The Columbus State University Softball team completed a doubleheader sweep of Emmanuel University on Thursday evening, defeating the Lions 7-5 in game two at Cougar Field. With the victory, the Cougars improved to 10-5 overall.
Columbus State used a strong offensive performance in the middle innings, collecting 11 hits and scoring five runs in the third inning to take control of the contest after responding to Emmanuel's early run. The Lions struck first in the top of the opening inning, but the Cougars quickly answered in the bottom half when
Anna Waites reached on a fielder's choice that brought home
Gracyn Gurley, evening the score at 1–1 after the first inning.
The Cougars broke the game open in the third inning with a five-run rally. Waites started the scoring with an RBI groundout that allowed
Aubree Ussery to cross the plate.
Kara Wegienka followed with an RBI single up the middle to score
Nova Wright, giving Columbus State a 3-1 lead. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed Wegienka to score, extending the advantage to 4-1.
The inning continued when
Izzy Ripatti delivered a key two-RBI double to left field. The hit scored
Ella Hopper and
Mary-Catherine Sorrell, pushing the Cougars' lead to 6-1.
Columbus State added another run in the fourth inning when Wright lifted a sacrifice fly to second base, allowing
Abrianna Green to score and extend the lead to 7-1.
Emmanuel mounted a late push, scoring three runs in the fifth inning and another in the sixth to trim the deficit to 7-5, but the Columbus State pitching staff held firm down the stretch to secure the victory.
Aubree Ussery led the Cougars offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Ripatti finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Wegienka added two hits and an RBI. Waites contributed two RBIs, and Wright added an RBI on a sacrifice fly.
In the circle,
Lily Miller (4-3) earned the victory after pitching four innings, allowing one run on five hits.
Hanna Deschambault secured her first save of the season, pitching the final three innings while striking out four and allowing just one run.
Rylie Beddingfield also saw action in relief during the fifth inning.
Game Notes
- Columbus State recorded 11 hits and drew five walks in the win.
- Ripatti's two-RBI double highlighted the Cougars' five-run third inning.
- Deschambault earned her first save of the season with three innings of relief.
Up Next:
Columbus State will travel to Hardeeville, S.C., for a Peach Belt Conference match-up against the University of South Carolina - Beaufort on Saturday, March 7, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Richard Gray Sports Complex.
