 |  |
Lady Cougars Drops Extra Inning Affair to Augusta State
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augusta State (3-1) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| Columbus State U. (1-3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 5 |
| @ Columbus, GA | Cougar Field | ||||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: Hughes (2-0) - Augusta State |
| Loss: Kelsey Gilliam (0-2) - Columbus State U. |
| Augusta State Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Walton; Camp |
| 3B: Camp |
| HR: Jones |
| Columbus State U. Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Morgan Staffins; Taylor Turner |
| 3B: none |
| HR: Casey Googe; Kara Gordon; Morgan Staffins; Taylor Turner |
Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Columbus – The Columbus State softball team allowed three unearned runs including two in extra innings as they eventually lost to Augusta State 8-6 in nine innings Saturday night in a non-conference matchup. It was the final game of the Hughston Sports Clinic Classic played at Cougar Field in Columbus, Georgia.
ASU got on the board first as Kacee Camp ripped a two-run double down the leftfield line that plated Jessica Thornton and Molly Walton giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage after an inning of play. Both Thornton and Walton singled earlier in the frame.
The Lady Jaguars extended their lead to three in the fourth on an unearned run. Camp singled to the pitcher but was allowed a second life after a fly ball was dropped in foul territory that extended the at-bat. After stealing second and advancing on the throwing error down to the base, Camp crossed home plate on a fielder's choice.
Showing their fight that they have exhibited early in the season, the Lady Cougars responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs to knot the game after four full innings of play. Casey Googe drew a walk to leadoff the frame proceeded by a Kara Gordon bunt single. Morgan Staffins then hit her first homerun of the season deep over the left-centerfield fence.
Both teams would score in the sixth inning on solo homeruns. Kristen Jones hit hers to rightfield while Taylor Turner rocked hers to left-centerfield.
Walton and Vaughn again set the table for ASU this time in the seventh picking up a one-out double and walk, respectively. Following a pitching change, Thornton singled to rightfield bringing in Walton. As Thornton was taking second base on the throw, CSU attempted to throw her out at second base allowing Vaughn to score on the play.
Columbus State staved off any further damage in the frame tagging Thornton out at the play on a suicide squeeze attempt.
Down to their last at-bat, Googe and Gordon hit back-to-back solo homeruns in the bottom of the seventh inning knotting the game at six apiece. Morgan Staffins continued the rally lacing a single to rightfield on ASU's new pitcher, Heather Hughes. After a foul out, Turner struck again with a single through the left side placing runners on first and second base. Hughes worked out of the jam inducing a weak popup to end the inning.
After a one-two-three inning for each team in the eighth, Augusta State cracked through in the ninth thanks again to the CSU defense. Walton hit a one-out single before scoring on a sacrifice bunt attempt. The play started with Vaughn putting down the bunt to Kristen Gregory who fired the ball to first but the ball was dropped. Walton then raced for third as the ball was on the ground beating out the throw. On the throw to third, Vaughn raced for second beating the attempt to get her at second which then allowed Walton to score on the play. Thornton added an insurance run with a RBI single up the middle.
Kelsey Gilliam (0-2) was the hard luck loser tossing two innings allowing just an unearned run. Taylor Turner made her first collegiate start working 5.1 innings giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk. Kristen Carr also saw action pitching 1.2 innings.
Offensively, Staffins led the offensive charge picking up three hits and three runs batted in. Googe, Gordon and Branigan Wix all had two hits.
Heather Hughes (2-0) picked up the win in relief working 2.2 innings of shutout ball. Emily Headrick started the contest giving up all six runs on eight hits and three walks. Camp, Thornton and Walt all had three hits for the Lady Jaguars.
Columbus State returns to action on Wednesday, February 15 when it heads to Auburn-Montgomery for a non-conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
