Koalas and Rams Split in Penultimate Home Game

COLUMBIA, SC- Columbia College Softball welcomed cross-town rival Columbia International University to the Sutton Softball Complex for doubleheader action on Wednesday in the penultimate home game for the Koalas. 

The Koalas fell in the opener, 2-1, but bounced back in game two, 5-3, earning their third-straight split.

Columbia now holds a 16-20 record and will need some help to make it to post-season play with a 7-15 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) record. The Rams now sit in 10th place, two games ahead of the Koalas, at 14-22 overall and 9-15 in AAC play. 

GAME ONE:

• Meghan Dennis sat down the first nine batters she faced.
• CIU Broke through in the top of the fourth with a double and then an RBI single. 
• Columbia loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning but failed to plate any runs.
• The Koalas tied things up in the bottom of the fifth when Madison Wadford made a heads-up play, scoring on an errant throw.
• CIU then took the lead back in the top of the seventh and didn't allow any base runners in the bottom half of the inning. 

GAME TWO: 

• The Koalas scored early and often, tallying all five runs in the first four innings.
• Kyra McCarson brought in the first run in the bottom of the second with a double to right center.
• Rachel McMillan plated Dacie Smith in the third with an RBI single to left field.
• In the bottom of the fourth Mary-Catherine Sanders used her speed to force a throwing error that allowed Katie Poole to score.
• Hope Azurdia then cleared the bases with an RBI single through the right side of the infield. 
• Kynsly Gehling recorded her first win of the season by coming on in relief; she allowed no runs on just two hits while striking out two batters.

UP NEXT:

Columbia will hit the road for the first of three away doubleheaders on Friday when they travel to Virginia to take on Bluefield at 1 and 3 p.m.