Azurdia's home run and 5 RBIs lead Koalas to comeback win at AAC Tournament

KINGSPORT, TN - Sixth-seeded Columbia College roared back to stun the #7 seed Bulldogs of Union College 8-6 on Wednesday afternoon in an elimination game in the consolation bracket at the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Softball Tournament. The four-day event is being held at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.

Tickets are available and can be purchased by clicking here. If unable to attend in person, all games will be streamed live online. To watch, click here. Columbia next faces off with #5 seed Brenau University on Thursday morning at 11 AM.

Sophomore outfielder Hope Azurdia drove in five runs to help lead No. 6 seed Columbia to an 8-6, come-from-behind victory and eliminate Union. Azurdia jump-started the comeback with a two-run homer in the third inning to pull the Koalas to within 3-2. Azurdia's home run was her 6th of the season as she now has 24 RBIs, 27 runs scored, and hitting .292.

She then smoked a three-run bases-loaded double in the 4th inning to give CC a 7-5 lead, their first of the tournament.The five-run inning saw the Koalas trail 5-2 and suddenly take the lead scoring their first two runs of the inning on consecutive RBI sac bunts from 3B Bailey Strickland and CF Mary-Catherine Sanders. Sanders went 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored and a stolen base.

A sacrifice fly from senior pitcher Kylie Smith in the 6th inning gave the Koalas an insurance run to go back up by two runs at 8-6. Smith (12-9) finished off the complete game win with a 1-2-3 7th inning. Smith allowed 5 runs on 10 hits while walking three and striking out one.

Columbia fell 8-0 on Tuesday night against #3 seed Tennessee Wesleyan and the AAC Pitcher of the Year in the first round.

https://www.aacsports.com/sports/sball/2023-24/releases/20240501syuzys