Koalas Edged 10-9 by Brenau at AAC Tournament

KINGSPORT, Tenn. - Sixth-seeded Columbia College was edged by 5th seed Brenau University (Ga.) 10-9 in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday afternoon in the Koala's second straight elimination game of the loser's bracket in the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball Tournament, being held at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.

Sophomore Outfielder Hope Azurdia led the offense again going 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs and a 2-run homer in the first inning. However, the Tigers came back with a 6-run first off senior pitcher Meghan Dennis to take command of the game. Columbia, though, would climb to within 7-6 by the 4th inning with RBI singles from seniors Aislyn Sharp and Katie Poole in the 2nd and 3rd innings and a two-run single from senior CF Mary-Catherine Sanders to close out the third.

Then, a two-run homer from outfielder Ruthie Roman would tie the game at 8 in the 5th inning. It was her 2nd of the season. Unfortunately, Brenau took the lead back in the 6th off a Koala error and would go on to hold off CC in the 7th, even as the Koalas loaded the bases with Azurdia's sac fly making it 10-9.

Senior 2B Brooklyn Franco went 3 for 3 with 2 runs while Sanders and Azurdia had two-hit games. Azurdia finished the year with 7 homers and 27 RBIs while Sanders hit at a .349 clip.

*Columbia ends their season 25-22 and with the most wins and best conference finish (T-5th) in 10 years since the 2014 team had 27 wins.

Tennessee Wesleyan defeated Johnson on Friday in the losers' bracket final with the winner advancing to face Reinhardt in the championship game, where RU went on to win the title 9-1.

*Azurdia was also named to the All-AAC Tournament Team also for her stellar three games.

Tournament Schedule
Tuesday, April 30
Game 1 - No. 5 Brenau (27-15) def. No. 4 Truett McConnell (25-17), 12-4
Game 2 - No. 1 Reinhardt (39-8) def. No. 8 Bryan (17-21), 5-3 
Game 3 - No. 2 Johnson (24-13) def. No. 7 Union (15-25), 9-1 
Game 4 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (25-11) def. No. 6 Columbia (24-21), 8-0 (box)

Wednesday, May 1
Game 5 - No. 4 Truett McConnell (26-17) def. No. 8 Bryan (17-22), 5-0 - Bryan eliminated
Game 6 - No. 6 Columbia (25-21) def. No. 7 Union (15-25), 8-6 (box) - Union eliminated
Game 7 - No. 1 Reinhardt (40-8) def. No. 5 Brenau (27-16), 8-0 
Game 8 - No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (26-11) def. No. 2 Johnson (24-14), 4-3 (8 innings)

Thursday, May 2
Game 9 - No. 5 Brenau (28-16) def. No. 6 Columbia (25-22), 10-9 (box) - Columbia eliminated
Game 10 - No. 2 Johnson (25-14) def. No. 4 Truett McConnell (26-18), 1-0 - Truett McConnell eliminated
Game 11 - No. 1 Reinhardt (41-8) def. No. 3 Tennessee Wesleyan (26-12), 7-6 
Game 12 - No. 2 Johnson (26-14) def. No. 5 Brenau (28-17), 5-3 (box) - Brenau eliminated