DAHLONEGA, Ga. — The No. 4-seeded Columbus State University softball team fell 3-2 in 10 innings to No. 5-seeded Lander University on Thursday afternoon in the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium.
Columbus State moved to 35-22 overall with the loss, while Lander improved to 34-19.
After four scoreless innings, Lander broke through in the top of the fifth on an RBI single from Samantha Bumgarner, scoring Emily Allen for an unearned run and a 1-0 lead. The Bearcats added another unearned run in the sixth after Savanna Price reached on an error, allowing Cheyenne Jordan to score and extend the lead to 2-0.
The Cougars answered in the bottom half of the sixth with one swing from
Aubree Ussery. After
Libby Buchanan reached base, Ussery launched a two-run home run to even the game at 2-2.
Both teams remained scoreless through the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings before Lander pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. Allen delivered the decisive hit with an RBI triple down the right-field line, scoring Kara Vonachen to give the Bearcats a 3-2 lead.
Columbus State finished with 10 hits in the contest. Ussery led the Cougars offensively, going 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBI's, and two walks. Buchanan went 2-for-5 with a run scored, while
Anna Waites added two hits, including a double.
Ansley Collins,
Nova Wright, and
Mary-Catherine Sorrell each recorded one hit.
In the circle,
Hanna Deschambault started for Columbus State and allowed one unearned run on two hits across 5.0 innings.
Khloe Shears followed with 5.0 innings of relief, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with four strikeouts. Shears was charged with the loss, moving to 19-9 on the season.
The Cougars will return to action Friday, May 15, against No. 1-seeded University of North Georgia in the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Haines & Carolyn Hill Stadium in Dahlonega, Ga.
