Koalas' Clutch Hitting and Pitching Lead to Sweep over CIU

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College softball team used stellar pitching in game one to edge the Lady Rams 2-1 before buidling a big lead and holding on for a 7-5 victory in game two of their AAC sweep over crosstown rival Columbia International on Tuesday.

GAME 1

Senior starter Meghan Dennis had her stuff working on Tuesday as she allowed just one run on 6 hits with zero walks and a strikeout over a full 7 innings as she improved to 6-6 with a 3.35 ERA. The Koalas grabbed the lead early on a Skyler Monson solo homer to center in the 2nd inning. It was her team-leading 6th of the season.

Columbia then added an insurance run in the 5th inning as an RBI double from senior 3B Aislyn Sharp drove in sophomore 1B/2B Aliyah Crawley, who had singled to give CC a 2-0 lead.

However, the 7th inning provided dramtics as CIU put the tying run on third with two hits and a fielder's choice that made it 2-1. Then with one out, a fly ball was caught by LF Hope Azurdia while she then proceeded to throw a strike to senior catcher Katie Poole to tag out the runner who was attempting to score the tying run on a sac fly to end the game with a double play.

Sharp led the Koalas with 2 hits while outfielder Ruthie Roman and MC Sanders also recorded hits in the win.

GAME 2 

The second game of the evening then saw the Koalas overcome 6 errors as they used their offense to knock out 7 runs on 15 hits including three hits apiece from Sharp and Crawley. Sharp crushed two doubles as she improved her average to .377. Senior Pitcher/1B Kylie Smith not only pitched well but hit terrificly also going 2 for 4 with 3 RBIs to help give Columbia an early 6-0 lead after 4 innings.

Poole also had an RBI double in the first inning while Monson reached base 4 times on 2 hits and 2 walks. CIU would trim CC's lead to 6-4 after 6 innings bnefore the Koalas added another insurance run in the 7th inning on Crawley's RBI single. 

Smith (8-7) threw 6 and 1/3 innings allowing 5 runs, but just one earned, on 7 hits and a walk with a season-tying 7 strikeouts. Reliever Bailey Strickland then came on to get the final two outs and pick up the save. Smith lowered her ERA to 3.04 and now has 50 Ks on the year.

With the sweep, Columbia improves to 16-16 on the season and 10-8 in the AAC while CIU falls to 11-21 and 2-14.

Columbia will be right back at it on Wednesday to host Paine College in a 4 pm DH.

Skyler Monson pictured below on her home run, courtesy of CIU