April 15, 2012
Columbus State Sweeps Francis Marion With 3-1 Win
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Columbus – Taylor Turner pitched seven great innings and Morgan Staffins delivered the game-winning hit again as Columbus State finished off the sweep of Francis Marion winning game two of the doubleheader 3-1 Sunday afternoon. The Peach Belt Conference tilt was played at Cougar Field in Columbus, Georgia.
CSU (34-18, 9-9) took advantage of a pair of defensive miscues by the Lady Patriots in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. With one out, Morgan Knight was hit by a pitch which was followed by the first error by FMU. Casey Googe hit a ball back to the pitcher who went to second base but the shortstop couldn't handle the throw allowing both runners to be safe. The shortstop had a blunder on the very next play allowing Knight to race home for the score.
Francis Marion (31-15, 8-8) answered right back in the next half inning as Jazz Holliday doubled to right-centerfield to begin the frame. A sacrifice bunt moved up to third before she came across on a RBI groundout by Katie Carnes.
In the fourth, Columbus State pushed the pedal to the floor trying to score a run from second base with two outs when Kelsey Gilliam singled up the middle but a perfect throw gunned down Kara Gordon at the plate keeping the score tied at 1-1.
The Lady Cougars finally cracked through in the sixth when Gordon ripped a one-out double to right-centerfield. Staffins then laced a double off the left-centerfield wall plating Gordon and giving the hosts a 2-1 advantage. Kori Waugh added an insurance run with a RBI single up the middle that drove in pinch-runner Suzanne Carney.
FMU didn't go quietly in the seventh as a bloop single to rightfield and a infield dribbler with two outs brought the potential game-winning run to the plate, but Turner easily disposed of her registering a strikeout to end the contest.
Nina Rubio had the lone multi-hit game for CSU going 2-for-3 while Staffins and Waugh each went 1-for-3 with a RBI. Turner (8-4) finished the contest allowing one run on six hits and one strikeout.
Carnes fell to 10-5 on the year with the loss as she surrendered three runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out eight. Holliday and Destinea Schneider both went 2-for-3 to lead the offensive attack for FMU.
Columbus State closes out the regular season on Tuesday, April 17 when it hosts Georgia College in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Cougar Field.
