Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Conway, Ark. - The Cougar softball team split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon at the Central Baptist (Ark.) University Invitational, defeating Lindenwood University-Belleville 3-2 and falling to LSU-Alexandria 5-2. The split moves Columbia to 2-2 on the year.

Against future American Midwest Conference member, the Cougars got off to a good start, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Jamie Holmes doubled to left and stole third. Two batters later, Marli Hayes reached base on a fielder's choice and got to second on a stolen base, setting up Taylor Atwood who stepped to the plate and ripped a double to center field to score Holmes and Hayes.

Taylor Richter and Tiffany Urwiler on the mound held the Lynx scoreless until the top of the fifth when they were able to plate one runner on a squeeze play after logging two hits in the inning. Lindenwood-Belleville tied up the ballgame in the top of the sixth. A single, sacrifice bunt, error and another single registered the tying run for the Lynx. Carly Spalding threw what could have been the winning run out at the plate from centerfield to give the Cougars momentum heading into the bottom of the sixth. Senior Hayes reached base on a walk and scored the game winner on back-to-back singles by Atwood and Kristin Eiken.

Columbia left two runners on base in the bottom of the sixth, but were able to hold off the Lynx in the top of the seventh for the win after loading the bases. Paxton Welch replaced Urwiler on the mound to get the final out and save. Urwiler got the win, throwing 4.2 innings. Atwood logged two of Columbia's six hits in the contest and two RBIs.

In their second game of the day the Cougars struggled to string their offense together and allowed three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Columbia got on the board in the fifth inning with back-to-back solo homeruns by Brittiany Tjarks and Paige Kleffner. LSU-Alexandria came back to notch another run in the bottom on the inning and added one more in the sixth to put the Cougars down three headed into the seventh. Columbia put two runners on but couldn't bring them home, giving them their second loss of the year.

Six different Cougar logged a hit in the contest. Lauren McCroskie took the loss on the mound after relieving Amber Boehme in the first inning. McCroskie gave up seven hits and two earned runs.

The Cougars head back down to Conway, Ark. next weekend to play four more games. Columbia will face Lyon College in a non-conference matchup at 1 p.m. and Central Baptist College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 1. On Sunday, March 2 they will play Ecclesia College at 11 a.m. and AIB-College of Business at 1 p.m.