CSU Softball Splits Games on Saturday at West Georgia Invitational

Carrollton, Ga. -- Columbus State got a pair of well-played games on Saturday at the West Georgia Invitational and came away with a split of two contests. CSU defeated Barry University 4-3 in the first game and then saw Nova Southeastern break open a close game late in a 7-2 loss. CSU is now 7-11 on the season.

Against Barry, the Cougars plated a pair of runs in the first inning, taking advantage of an error and then getting a Morgan Staffins single later in the inning. Christi Thompson scored the first run and Staffins drove in Kristi Bullard for the 2-0 lead.

Barry tied the contest in the fourth on back-to-back solo homeruns by Jessica Tabor and Amanda Goelz. The Bucs' only other run came in the seventh on yet another solo homer, this one by Taylor Newman.

CSU got the game-winning runs in the fifth inning as both came with two outs. A one-out single by Christie Thompson gave the Cougars a runner, and after a Carrie Jones foulout, Krisit Bullard drew a walk to put two runners on. Rocky Hemmer then delivered a clutch double to plate both runners and make it 4-2. A Staffins single and a walk to Kori Waugh loaded the bases, but Branigan Wix tapped back to the circle to end the threat.

Bullard earned the pitching win as she allowed five hits with one strikeout. Thompson and Staffins led the offense with two hits each as CSU posted nine hits as a team.

Against Nova, CSU got solo homers from Carrie Jones and Brittany Leverett and trailed just 3-1 in the fourth, but a four-run rally by the Sharks led to the win.

Freshman Kelsey Gilliam started and took the loss. Christie Thompson was the only CSU player with two hits as the Cougars got six as a team.

CSU concludes play in the West Georgia Invitational with games against Anderson and North Alabama at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.