Koalas Cage Tigers in Home Opener

COLUMBIA, SC- Columbia College Softball opened the gates of the Sutton Softball Complex for their first home doubleheader of the season on Tuesday afternoon, welcoming cross-town Benedict College for twin ball action.

The Koalas took game one, 8-2, behind a surgical performance from Meghan Dennis in the circle. They then caged the Tigers once again, 6-1, to improve to 2-2 on the new season.

GAME ONE: Columbia- 8, Benedict- 2 (7inn.)

• Meghan Dennis went the distance in the circle, striking out 11 of the 28 batters she faced; she fired off 118 pitches, 78 for strikes. 
  
  
• Kylie Smith got the Koalas on the board in the bottom of the first with a SAC fly to right after the Tigers had put one run-up in the top of the inning. 
  
  
• In the second, Hope Azurdia launched a solo shot to deep left field for a 2-1 lead; Katie Poole then brought Ruthie Roman around to score with an RBI single to left field.
  
  
• Columbia added five insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth thanks to timely hitting, including a double to center field from lead-off hitter Aislyn Sharp.
  
  

GAME TWO: Columbia- 6, Benedict- 1 (7inn.)

• Benedict again jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but the Koalas answered quickly thanks to an error.
  
  
• Then, in the third, Skyler Monson tacked on two more runs with a double to right center field. 
  
  
• Later in the sixth, Bailey Strickland added some cushion with a two-run shot to deep center field on the first pitch she saw of the afternoon.
  
  
• Kylie Smith went in the distance in the circle after playing first base in game one; she struck out three batters and allowed just one run (in the first inning).

UP NEXT:

Columbia will return to action on Wednesday, February 14, when they travel to Paine College.