Lady Koalas Rally to Sweep KCU

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College softball team rallied from behind in both games to sweep their AAC doublehader with Kentucky Christian on Sunday afternoon. Columbia won 6-4 in game two and 6-5 in game one led by a two-homer game from senior 3B Aislyn Sharp.

Game 1

Sharp hit solo homers in the 4th and 6th innings as she went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Her second homer of game one tied the game with KCU at 5 apiece. The Koalas also used a two-run single from sophomore RF Ruthie Roman in the third to get to within 4-2 while junior DH Aliyah Crawley's RBI double in the 5th tied the game at 4 apiece. Senior 1B Kylie Smith's RBI double in the 6th was the game-winner for Columbia as a walk to senior catcher Katie Poole put a runner on base for Smith.

Sharp, Smith, and sophomore LF Hope Azurdia all had multi-hit games for the Koalas while sophomore reliever Bailey Strickland picked up the win in the circle as she allowed just one run on 7 hits with a walk and 4 strikeouts over 4 and 2/3 innings of relief of senior starter Meghan Dennis. Dennis lasted just 2 and 1/3 innings allowing 4 runs on 6 hits with two strikeouts.

Game 2

Columbia again found themselves trailing in game two as a three-run homer from KCU put the Koalas in a 3-0 hole in the third inning. However, this would only add more motivation to the big comeback as Columbia went on to score 5 runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. A two-run double from Smith made it 3-2 before Roman's sacrifice fly tied the game at three. Senior 2B Brooklyn Franco's two-run double then gave CC the 5-3 edge scoring Crawley and Azurdia while a sac fly from shorststop Skyler Monson gave the Koalas a 6-3 lead in the 4th.

Monson is now hitting .353 on the season with 18 hits while Smith is hitting .345 with 19 hits. Sharp has team leads, though, in hits with 22, runs with 18, homers with 5, RBIs with 15 and average at .379.

In the circle, pitcher Kylie Smith picked up the win improving to 4-4 as she threw all 7 innings allowing 4 runs on 5 hits while walking three and striking out six.

Columbia improves to 10-8 on the season and 5-3 in the conference and will next remain home to host AAC foe Pikeville on Friday at 2 PM from the Sutton Complex.