Softball's Offense Not Enough in losses at Paine

AUGUSTA, GA - The Columbia College softball team unfortunately dropped both ends of their non-conference road doubleheader at Paine College (Ga.) on Wednesday falling 7-4 in game 1 and 10-9 in 8 innings in game two.

GAME 1: PAINE 7, CC 4

The Koalas got off to a fast 2-0 start scoring in the first inning bfeore scoring two more in the 3rd to take a 4-3 lead after three frames. However, Paine then got to starting pitcher Kynsly Gehling in the bottom of the 4th to score four runs and take a 7-4 lead. Reliever/1B Ally Boyd then came on to finish the game allowing just one hit over 2 and 2/3 shutout innings. Gehling allowed 7 runs on 9 hits with a walk and a strikeout over 3 and 1/3 innings to get the loss.

Middle infielders Ashlynn Wolff and Maggie Hinz led the offense as each recorded two hits apiece at the top of the lineup while Boyd also picked up an RBI hit. Senior 1B/RF Aliyah Crawley also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly while Hinz tripled in Wolff for a run, who had doubled. Pinch-hitter/catcher Taylor Perry also had a hit while CF Lana Hampson walked and stole a base.

GAME 2: PAINE 10, CC 9 (8 INNINGS)

A high-scoring game two featured 19 combined runs, 21 hits and 7 total errors. Paine got out to a quick 3-1 lead on the Koalas before CC scored five runs in the 2nd to lead 6-3. However, pitcher Amanda Lohrey then allowed three more runs in the 2nd as Paine tied it up at six. The teams would then trade runs over the 3rd and 4th innings before Paine took the lead in the sixth 9-8. The Koalas then tied the game at 9 in the 7th forcing xtra innings. However, PC walked off with the win in the bottom of the 8th. 

Lohrey threw 2 and 2/3 innings allowing 6 earned runs on 8 hits while reliever Addison Warner finished out the game tossing 4 and 1/3 frames allowing 2 runs on 2 hits, while walking four and striking out seven.

Offensively, the Koalas totaled 11 hits led by three hits from A. Crawley including a double and two RBI while Boyd's mammoth grand slam in the second inning drove in four. Perry also recorded two hits in the game while infielders Wolff, Hinz, 3B Elaina Seymour, and SS Sophia Caley all notched a hit as well. Seymour, Hinz, and Caley drove in runs also.

Columbia falls to 1-3 and will now open their home season by hosting the Cola Classic this weekend in conjunction with CIU. The Koalas will first face WV Tech Friday morning at 11am followed by Coastal Georgia at 4 pm from the Sutton Complex. Columbia will also host two games on Saturday afternoon at 3 and 5:30 pm as well.