Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar Softball team kicked off conference play with a doubleheader sweep of NAIA Preseason No. 4 Williams Baptist College on Friday afternoon. Columbia (7-6) won game one 9-1 in six innings and used an 11-run eighth inning to take game two by a score of 16-5.

After a scoreless top of the first, the Cougars picked up a quick run in the bottom of the inning following a leadoff single by Jamie Holmes, who advanced to second on a fielding error by Eagles right fielder Mallory Siebert. Holmes would steal third on the next pitch and come around to score on a wild pitch for a 1-0 Columbia advantage. The Cougars tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by a two-run home run to right center by Paige Kleffner. Columbia continued to add to their lead with two runs in the third inning to go up 6-0, more than enough for starting pitcher Lauren McCroskie. Williams Baptist would get on the board with a solo home run in the top of the sixth before the Cougars plated three runs in the bottom of the frame, capped off by a two-run double from Brittiany Tjarks.

McCroskie earned the complete game win in the circle for Columbia, allowing a run on five hits in six innings of work. The Cougars pounded out 15 hits in the game as five different players had two hits.

Columbia would get on the board in the top of the first inning of game two as Carly Spalding and Marli Hayes ripped back-to-back doubles for a 1-0 lead. The Cougars added another run in the third when Tjarks came around to score after leading off the inning with a double to right. Columbia stretched their lead out to 4-0 in the top of the fourth on RBIs from McCroskie and Holmes. The Cougars led 5-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh before the Eagles struck for four runs against reliever Amber Boehme. Sophomore Tiffany Urwiler was able to get Columbia out of a bases-loaded jam to send the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the Cougars erupted for 11 runs as four straight hitters reached base to begin the frame, including back-to-back triples by Holmes and Spalding. Hayes would cap off the scoring outburst with a three-run home run to right center for a 16-5 Columbia advantage and Urwiler would shut the door in the bottom of the inning.

The Cougars finished with 16 hits for the game, led by Tjarks and Kristin Eiken with four each. Four different Columbia players had 2+ RBI, led by Hayes with six.

The Cougars will be back in action tomorrow with another conference doubleheader vs. Lyon College. First pitch is set for 2:00 pm at Antimi Black Field in Columbia.