Softball Drops Close One-Run Games at SMC

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Columbia College softball team dropped two hard-fought one-run games on the road at non-conference foe Spartanburg Methodist College Thursday afternoon. The Koalas lost a 6-5 heartbreaker in 8 innings in game one before their rally fell short in game two going down 3-2.

G1: SMC 6, CC 5 (8 INNINGS)

Columbia College took its first lead of the day in the top of the eighth, scoring twice for a 5-3 advantage. However, SMC responded in the bottom half of the inning. The Lady Pioneers led off with a RBI triple, driving in a runner, who was placed on second as part of the international tiebreaker rule. SMC then tied the game at five when they scored on a wild pitch.

Freshman catcher Reagan Kelly had a big day at the plate for CC as she went 3 for 3 in game one with a home run and two doubles and tied the game in teh 4th at 3 with her two-run shot. Junior SS/OF Ashlynn Wolff got the Koalas on the board in the 3rd with an RBI single scoring Kelly. Then, in the 8th inning, freshman 2B Maggie Hinz' RBI single made it 4-3 before 1B Addyson Tucker's RBI single put CC up by 2. Wolff also stole a base and recorded a sac bunt. 

Senior pitcher Addison Warner threw just 1 and 2/3 innings one earned run on 2 hits while walking three and striking out four. Junior reliever Kynsly Gehling then kept the Koalas in the game tossing 5 and 1/3 shutout innings. However, SMC got to her in the 8th inning as gehling's final stat line had her allowing 3 runs (1 earned) on 4 hits while striking out two.

G2: SMC 3, CC 2

In game two, SMC withstood a late rally by Columbia to grab a 3-2 victory. The Koalas attempted a comeback in the sixth, scoring twice on just one hit as 1B Autumn Hamilton's RBI sac bunt brought in Aliyah Crawley, who had walked and stole a base, before outfielder Lana Hampson's RBI single made it 3-2. CC then put two runners on the bases in the 7th, but could not push the tyring run across.

Junior pitcher Ally Boyd (6-5) got the tough-luck loss throwing 4.2 innings allowing 2 earned runs on 4 hits with zero walks and striking out one. Senior reliever Paige Branham tossed 1 and 1/3 shutout innings as well allowing just a hit and a walk.

Columbia falls to 11-13 overall on the season while SMC improves to 13-6. The Koalas return home today, Friday at 3:00 to host conference foe Brenau University (GA) in an AAC doubleheader at 3 and 5 pm.