Koala Softball Stuns Johnson with Thrilling Sweep and Walk-Off Home Run

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College Softball team pulled off a two-game conference stunner on Friday in their final home series of this season sweeping conference contender and defending tournament champs, Johnson University in thrilling one-run games. 

In game one the Lady Koalas won on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 7th as junior SS Ashlynn Wolff knocked a one-out solo home run to clinch the win for the Koalas, 3-2. The team then rallied in game two with three runs in the bottom of the 6th to win game two 5-4.

In an electric game that went back-and-forth, the right fielder Takeirra Bakken recorded a team-high two hits and a run scored while 3B Elaina Seymour, catcher Reagan Kelly, and senior OF Lana Hampson, all knocked one hit each at the plate with Bakken and Hampson also hitting doubles. Wolff's home run was her third of the season, 25th RBI and 41st run scored while she is hitting a team-best .398.

Senior Ally Boyd (3-10) pitched game one for the Koalas leading them to victory giving up only 5 hits and two runs (one earned) with one strikeout and no walks in a complete game of 7 innings.

The Lady Koalas carried the momentum from game one into the second game of the series. While it was a slower start, the ladies eventually found their groove again.

Ashlynn Wolff led the team again in hits in game two going 3 for 4 at the plate with 3 RBI as her two-run single put CC in front 2-0. She was followed by Ashlyn Blackstone getting two hits while Kelly, Bakken, and Krislyn Wilder all recorded hits as well.

Junior pitcher Maddie Vaughn was in the circle for game two throwing all seven innings, striking out four while giving up just four hits and four runs and walking three in the Koala comeback victory.

Going into the sixth inning, the Koalas were down by two at 4-2 before putting together a clutch three-run rally in the sixth to stun the Royals and take the lead. The 6th started off with a Brooke Farrell walk followed by the speedy Wilder bunt single. Wolff then drove in Farrell to get CC to within 4-3 before Seymour came up kncoking a fielder's choice with Wilder racing home to slide under and beat the tag before Seymour stole second base as Wolff scrambled home behind the throw from second to score the eventual game-winning run.

The Koalas had a great day coming together to secure the big wins needed in the push for the conference tournament improving to 20-22 overall and 8-16 in the AAC and into 10th place, currently the last spot in the playoffs. Johnson falls from 4th place to 7th in the conference with the losses dropping to 8-6 in AAC play and 18-15 overall.

CC will next look forward to their last non-conference doubleheader of the season on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 pm at Paine College in Augusta, GA.