Koalas’ Bats Heat Up in Split

SAVANNAH, GA - The Fighting Koalas softball team took on Georgetown College (KY) and West Virginia Tech at the SCAD Smash Hit Tournament.  In two games the Koalas pounded 22 hits, including 2 home runs.  Columbia's first win of the season came in the morning against Georgetown College, 8-7.  The Koalas fell in game two 10-6 to West Virginia Tech.

The Koalas made history by recording their first win as a collegiate program.  In just their third game and second day of playing as an official collegiate sport, the Koalas knocked off a powerful Georgetown College, who was ranked #30 in the preseason coaches' poll.  Kelsey Nichols recorded her first win, recording 6 hits, 5 runs, and 3 strikeouts.  Sarah Gibson and Casey Davenport both slammed their first career homeruns.

Game 2 against West Virginia Tech saw an onslaught of offense.  Deanna Jones knocked in 4 runs, including a bases clearing double in the first inning, which gave Columbia a 5-3.  Defensive struggles caught the best of the Koalas, giving up 3 unearned runs on 5 errors.  Samantha Santoro waived 6 batters in the loss.  Brittany Raneri and Brittany Koester each accounted for five hits between the two games.