Koalas Fall 6-3 to FNU and #8 GA Gwinnett at SMC Tourney

DUNCAN, S.C. - The Columbia College softball team dropped their first game of the day 6-3 to Florida National University at the CAC Tournament hosted by Spartanburg Methodist at Tyger River Park.

FNU got out to a 1-0 lead in the third on a groundout before CC tied it in the 4th on OF Lana Hampson's RBI double that scored freshman 3B Elaina Seymour, who had singled. However, the Crusaders came back with 4 runs in the bottom of the 4th on consecutive RBI singles scoring two of the 4 runs in the inning off game one starter, freshman Madison Cheek. Cheek threw three plus innings allowing 3 earned runs on 5 hits while walking two. 

Junior reliever Amanda Lohrey then allowed two runs in the 4th and another in the 6th as FNU increased their lead to 6-1. Lohrey finished throwing 2 and 1/3 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks before senior reliever Paige Branham closed out the final inning.

Freshman 2B Maggie Hinz then knocked a two-run two-out single in the 7th to pull CC to wihtin three at 6-3 but they could get no closer. Outfielders Brooke Farrell and Malurie Martin reached base via single and walk respectively and came around to score on Hinz's hit.

Infielders Aliyah Crawley, Hinz and Seymour all finished with two hits apiece combining for 6 of the Koala's 8 hits.  

The Lady Koalas fall to 15-19 overall while FNU also improves to 15-18. Columbia next faced the 8th ranked team in the NAIA, Georgia Gwinnett later Friday but fell 20-0 in 5 innings to the powerhouse. Columbia collected just four hits, a double from Farrell and two more hits from Hinz and a pinch hit single from freshman OF Hailie Lebiedz.

Columbia will next head to Tennessee on Wednesday to battle Milligan University in a 2:00 pm doubleheader.