CSU Softball Sweeps Previously Unbeaten Lincoln Memorial on Sunday

Harrogate, Tenn. -- Columbus State got a four-hitter in the opening game and another by two pitchers in the nightcap to sweep Lincoln Memorial on Sunday. The defeats were the first of the season for LMU who came into the double header at 12-0. CSU moves to 6-8 and closes its Tennessee trip on a high note.

CSU got down 1-0 early in game one as LMU got a triple and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. That would prove to be the only run Cougar pitcher Kristi Bullard would allow. She would go on to allow just three more hits and strike out six to earn the win.

CSU tied the game in the third inning as Bullard plated Brittany Leverett with a groundball back to the pitcher. The unusual fielder's choice with two outs allowed a run to score and make it 1-1.

The Cougars got the game-winning runs in the fifth inning. Carrie Jones got the big hit, a two-run single through the right side of the infield to score Leverett and Keeley Kennedy. Kori Waugh singled with two outs later in the inning to score Christie Thompson and make it 4-1.

Leverett led a nine-hit CSU attack with two hits and also scored two runs.

In the nightcap, CSU pitchers Brittni McCall and Kelsey Gilliam combined to allow just four hits. McCall got the win as she went three innings, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts. Gilliam pitched the final two innings of the run-rule-shortened contest, allowing one hit and fanning three.

Brittany Leverett's grand slam after a two-out error in the fifth inning put CSU up 8-0 in the top of the fifth. The homer was her second of the game as she had previously hit a solo shot to lead off the fourth. Morgan Staffins doubled home two runs in the third inning as well.

Gilliam allowed a one-out hit in the fifth, but then got a groundout and fanned the final hitter to close out the win.

Leverett again had two hits and drove in five runs in the game. Thompson and Waugh each added two hits, as well, as CSU collected nine hits as a team.

CSU opens Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday at UNC Pembroke at 1 PM. The Cougars then will play in the West Georgia Invitational next weekend in Carrollton.