COLUMBUS — The Columbus State University softball team opened its Peach Belt Conference series dominantly Friday evening, defeating the University of South Carolina Aiken, 6-0, in game one at Cougar Field.
With the win, Columbus State improves to 28-17 overall and 15-4 in Peach Belt Conference play, while USC Aiken falls to 25-20 overall and 9-10 in the league.
Columbus State set the tone early, manufacturing a run in the first inning as
Aubree Ussery came around to score on a stolen base sequence by
Anna Waites to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Cougars added to their advantage in the second inning when
Ansley Collins delivered an RBI single up the middle, scoring
Kara Wegienka and extending the lead to 2-0.
The Cougars continued to apply pressure offensively in the fifth inning. Wegienka stayed hot at the plate, driving in
Libby Buchanan with an RBI single to center field to make it 3-0.
Columbus State broke the game open in the sixth inning with a three-run frame. Ussery was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home
Mary-Catherine Sorrell, and the Cougars capitalized on a USCA fielding error later in the inning that allowed two additional runs to score, pushing the lead to 6-0.
In the circle,
Khloe Shears (16-6) delivered another complete-game shutout, limiting USC Aiken to just four hits while striking out two and walking one. Shears was efficient throughout, facing just 27 batters and keeping the Pacers off the scoreboard for all seven innings.
Offensively, Wegienka led the Cougars with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, including an RBI. Buchanan added two hits and scored twice, while Waites recorded two hits and was active on the basepaths. Collins also contributed with an RBI, and the Cougars tallied nine hits as a team.
Columbus State will close out the three-game Peach Belt Conference series with a doubleheader against USC Aiken on Saturday, April 18, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Cougar Field.
