Softball's Offense Struggles at Brenau

Gainesville, GA - The Columbia College softball team fell on the road at conference foe Brenau University by scores of 10-1 and 7-0 Thursday evening in North Georgia.

With the score tied at 1 after one inning in game one, the Lady Tigers scored 4 runs in the 2nd off senior starter Meghan Dennis before putting the game out of reach in the 4th inning scoring four more off relievers Bailey Strickland and Kynsly Gehling. Dennis fell to 8-8 on the season allowing 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits and a walk in 1 and 2/3 innings while Strickland allowed 3 runs and 5 hits with a strikeout in 1 and 2/3 innings as well. Gehling threw the final inning allowing 2 hits and 2 runs (1 earned).

Senior 1B/P Kylie Smith got CC off to a 1-0 lead in the first as her RBI single drove home senior catcher Katie Poole, who had doubled. Then, in the 3rd inning, the Koalas had their next-best chance to score as they loaded the bases with one out on two singles from Poole and Smith and a HBP on 3B Aislyn Sharp. However, two groundouts ended the threat.

The fourth inning saw the Koalas load the bases once more trailing 6-1, but this time there were two outs. Outfielder Ruthie Roman and senior 2B Brooklyn Franco singled to put runners on the corners before Sharp walked to load them up. However, the Koalas' hottest hitter, Katie Poole lined out on a hard-hit ball to third base to once again end the inning. Smith and Poole led the offense with two hits apiece. Smith is now hitting .388 with 47 hits and 28 RBIs.

Game two saw a scoreless pitcher's duel through 4 and 1/2 innings before BU broke through in the 5th scoring two runs off game two starter, Kylie Smith. Brenau would then score 5 in the 6th inning on 3 RBI dubles and two errors to take a 7-0 lead and put the game out of reach.

Smith threw 5 and 2/3 innings allowing 7 runs, but just 4 earned on 9 hits walking one and striking out one. CC only tallied three singles in the game with Sharp, Poole, and Roman reaching base via hit while Skyler Monson, Brooke Farrell, and Franco all walked.

Columbia falls to 22-20 overall and 6th in the AAC at 14-12 while Brenau improved to 26-16 and to 5th in the AAC at 17-11. The Koalas will return home for the final time on Monday when they host Montreat in a 3 PM doubleheader.