Koalas Advance in AAC Post-Season Tournament

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Kingsport, Tenn. – After defeating sweeping St. Andrews University last Thursday, (Apr. 21), to secure a berth in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Softball Tournament for the first time in six years, the Columbia College Koalas defeated the Union Bulldogs, 7-6, to advance to the double-elimination round of the tournament. 

The five-day event is being held at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn. All games streamed live online at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/aac/. 

Columbia College (21-17, 15-13 AAC) entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed, while Union (16-24, 13-15 AAC) was the No. 9 seed. The Koalas advanced to face top-seeded Bryan (28-14, 24-4 AAC) Tuesday, Apr. 26 at 1 pm.

The teams headed into the third inning, knotted up at 1-all Union scored one run in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. The Koalas used two hits and a Bulldog error to score two runs and go up 3-2 in the bottom of the third.

The Koalas added one run in the fourth and three in the bottom of the fifth to take a commanding 7-3 lead.

Despite stepping to the plate with a 4-run deficit in the top of the sixth, Union remained poised. The Bulldogs scored three runs off three hits to close the gap to one, 7-6.

The Koalas defense held steady in the top of the seventh to pick up the one-run victory.

Elizabeth Stroud went six innings allowing the six runs (5 earned) with a strikeout to pick up the win. Meghan Dennis, who did not allow a hit or run, picked up the save in the victory.

Page Oldham, who went 4.1 innings for the Bulldogs, was the losing pitcher of record.

Alyssa Diaz led the Koalas at the plate, finishing 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI. Kylie Smith contributed a hit, a run and two RBIs in the contest.