March 29, 2011
Columbus State Softball Drops Extra Inning Contest to Georgia College
Milledgeville – The Columbus State softball team lost the first game of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon 2-1 at the hands of Georgia College at Peeler Complex. With the loss, CSU drops to 29-8 on the year and 7-2 in the conference while the Lady Bobcats improves its overall record to 11-29 and 6-7 in PBC play.
Neither team was able to muster any offense early in the contest until GC struck in the fifth inning. Brandie Monroe started the bottom half of the frame with a double in the right-centerfield gap and moved up to third on a single by Corby Holmes. After Holmes stole second base during the next at-bat, Caitlin Duvall singled in Monroe to put the Lady Bobcats in front 1-0.
Kristi Bullard did a tremendous job to limit the damage following an error that loaded the bases as the senior recorded three straight outs to get out of the jam.
The resilient Lady Cougars battled back like they have done all year to tie the contest in the seventh inning which began with Bullard drawing a walk. She then moved up to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on ground out to second base. Lauren Reader then ripped a double to right-centerfield knotting the game at 1-1. Unfortunately for CSU the next two batters were retired ending the rally.
Georgia College again loaded the bases in the bottom half of the seventh but Bullard kept them at bay striking out Maggie Davis and getting Lindsey Conway to fly out to rightfield forcing the game into extra innings.
Kori Waugh drew a two-out walk in the next half inning but was stranded there after a groundout to the pitcher.
GC finally cracked through in the bottom of the frame which started with Monroe singling to leftfield. After a sacrifice bunt advanced her up to second base, the second baseman reached third on a wild pitch. Monroe then scored on an error by the CSU defense to end the ballgame.
Reader picked up two of the three hits for Columbus State while Bullard picked up the other going 1-for-2 at the dish with a walk. Bullard (10-4) suffered the hard luck loss working 7.2 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on 11 hits.
Sabrina Chandler upper her record to 8-11 on the season throwing a complete game gem. She allowed just one run on three hits while striking out two. Haley Burnett led the offensive attack going 3-for-4 while C. Duvall, Monroe, and Kati Pickowitz all had multi-hit performances.
