Koalas Pickup Two Conference Wins

The Columbia College softball team picked up two Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) wins.  Last week, the Koalas split doubleheaders with Kentucky Christian University (KCU) and Union College, winning the opening games of each.

The splits push the Koalas overall record to 7-5 and even at 3-3 in the AAC.

Columbia College will host Montreat Wednesday, March 9. The first pitch for game one is 4 pm.

Against KCU (March 2), Columbia College won game one 7-4 and fell in game two 12-5.  In the win, the Koalas erased a 4-0 fourth-inning deficit to defeat the Knights.

Columbia College scored three runs in the fifth and four in the seventh en route to its three-run victory.

Kylie Smith had the hot bat in the game, going 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.  Six of the Koalas nine batters recorded at least one hit in the contest.  Kiley Bridgmon finished the game with a triple, two RBIs, and one run in three at-bats.

Jenna Heath, who allowed one earned run in 4.2 innings, was the winning pitcher.

The Knights were led at the plat by Kately Pavey, who went 4-for-4 with an RBI.  Ashton Blackburn went 6.1

In their second conference doubleheader of the week, Columbia College defeated Union 6-4 in the opening game and fell 8-1 in the second game.

The Koalas gave up three runs in the top of the opening inning but quickly closed the gap in their half of the inning.  Smith singled through the left side that bought home Kristin Wemes who reached earlier off a double to left field the middle.  A follow-up single by Madison Lee back to the pitcher scored Smith for Columbia College's second run of the inning.

The Koalas bats remained active over the next four innings while their defense held its ground, holding Union scoreless.  Columbia College picked up two runs in the second and one in each of the third and fourth to go ahead 6-3 after four complete.

After neither team scored in the fifth, the Bulldogs scored its final run in the top of the sixth, but the Koala's defense stayed solid in the seventh to secure the two-run victory.

Diaz went 3-for-3 with two runs, and Smith added three hits and four RBIs in the victory over Union.

Elizabeth Stroud went all seven innings with five strikeouts to pick up the win.

Megan Merritt went 2-for-3, including a home run with three RBIs to lead Union.  Elly Souther, who went three innings, giving up 10 hits with five earned runs, all earns, was the losing pitcher of record.