Warner's Shutout Leads Koala Softball to DH Split with Montreat

Black Mountain, N.C. - The Columbia College softball team used terrific pitching all day on Saturday to hold Montreat College to just one run. However, they could only split their conference doubleheader winning game one 2-0 behind a complete game shutout from senior pitcher Addison Warner.

CC, unfortunately, could not find their offense in game two and fell 1-0 in a pitcher's duel.

G1: CC 2, MC 0

Warner's stat line read as 7 shutout innings allowing just 3 hits while walking three but striking out a season-high nine batters to improve to 9-7 on the season with 83 streikouts and a 3.44 ERA.

Leading the offense were infielders in freshman Maggie Hinz and senior 1B Aliyah Crawley as they hit back to back 5th-inning RBI singles to break the scoreless tie. Scoring on the singles were freshman RF Madison Cheek, who led the team with two hits and a double, and junior SS Ashlynn Wolff. Freshman catcher Reagan Kelly also knocked a double while freshman Elaina Seymour and sophomore outfielder Lana Hampson recorded singles as well.

G2: MC 1, CC 0

In game two, neither offense could find any runs through five innings before Montreat broke through in the 6th inning scoring on a sacrifice fly off junior starting pitcher Ally Boyd. Boyd (7-10) threw six innings allowing just the one run on 3 hits while walking two and striking out one.

The Koalas outhit the Cavaliers 5-3 on the game, but left two runners on base in the 6th inning during their best scoring chance after consecutive singles from Hinz and Crawley. Cheek, Kelly, and Boyd also recorded singles in game two.

The 2-3-4 hitters in the Koala lineup are all hitting .340 or better on the season with Crawley leading the team with a .363 average. 

The Lady Koalas improve to 16-22 on the season and 11-11 in the AAC while Montreat goes to 24-12 overall and 12-6 in conference.

Columbia will now have a week off before heading to Georgia to battle Reinhardt University next Saturday.