Koalas Use Five-Run Fourth to Split with Tennessee Wesleyan

COLUMBIA, SC- After two rainouts, Columbia and Tennessee Wesleyan finally met on the Softball diamond Monday afternoon, with each side taking a game.

The Bulldogs won the early game, 4-0, but another late game rally helped the Koalas earn the split,5-2, with the visitors from Athens, TN.

Columbia now owns a 15-19 record overall and remains on the outside looking in of post-season tournament play with a 6-14 record in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. The Bulldogs sit sixth in the AAC standings with a 12-4 record in conference play and a 16-9 mark overall.

GAME ONE:
A double and a home run brought all four runs in to score for TWU. The double came in the third from Emily Mikkola, while Loryn Sherwood launched a two-run home run in the sixth. Cheyenne Strong went the distance for a complete game shutout, striking out six Koalas.

GAME TWO:
Another double scored two runs for the Bulldogs in the top of the second, but that would be their only scoring output of the second game.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Koalas took advantage of some critical fielding errors to score all five runs.

Kiley Bridgmon reached first by way of a throwing error that allowed Jordan Kennedy to score all the way from second base. Then with momentum on their side Madison Wadford delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Madison Hearn then stepped up and belted a ball to straightaway center field to give the Koalas a 5-2 lead.

Five runs were all they needed as Bailey Strickland pitched four shutout innings in relief.

UP NEXT:
The Koalas will stay home and welcome Columbia International to the Sutton Softball Complex on Wednesday. The first pitch is slated for 4 p.m.