Sharp's Home Runs and 9 RBIs help Koalas Swat Yellow Jackets

revised/edited by Troy Baranik, Columbia SID

COLUMBIA, SC- The Columbia College softball team welcomed fellow Soda City resident and crosstown foe Allen University to the Sutton Softball Complex on Thursday for non-conference action. The Koalas won 11-1 and 15-4 picking up two non-conference wins. 

GAME ONE: Columbia- 11, Allen- 1 (FINAL / 5 INN.)

The Koalas jumped out to a massive 9-0 lead after the first inning, running up a 25-minute half-inning. Senior 3B Aislyn Sharp got the scoring started when she stole third and forced a bad throw that trickled into the outfield, making a heads-up play to head home.

After that, Columbia scored on senior Kylie Smith's RBI single to right center, followed by three walks with the bases loaded, each scoring a run. After the parade around the bases, Sharp jolted the Koalas when she launched a massive grand slam over the left field fence, bringing the score to 9-0.

Senior 2B Brooklyn Franco brought senior catcher Katie Poole around to score in the second with a triple, while senior SS Skyler Monson recorded the final RBI of the game in the third with a double to left field.

Senior pitcher Meghan Dennis earned the win in the circle with four innings of work, striking out four batters.

GAME TWO: Columbia- 15, Allen- 4 (FINAL / 5 INN.)

The second game was a carryover from the first, with the Koalas dominating again to start things off, but Allen didn't go quietly this time. The Yellow Jackets chipped away at the Columbia 9-0 lead in the top of the fourth, though, using some critical Koala mistakes to put up a crooked number. Allen scored four runs thanks to an error and a wild pitch.

Aislyn Sharp , though, hit another home run in the bottom of the third, a three-run shot this time.

The Koalas answered right back with their turn to bat when, you guessed it, Sharp just missed her second grand slam of the day, knocking in two more runs with a stand-up double. Senior Outfielder Mary-Catherine Sanders followed things up with a double of her own, while Monson wrapped up the scoring with an RBI single.

Sharp led the way with five RBIs, while Smith helped herself with three. Monson, outfielder Ruthie Roman, Sanders, catcher Madison Knapper, and 1B Autumn Hamilton also recorded RBIs.

Kylie Smith earned the win in the circle, striking out seven batters in four innings of work allowing just 2 earned runs on 5 hits.

The Koalas will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Bryan for a 3 PM doubleheader, kicking off conference play in 2024.