Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Lakeland, Fla. - The Columbia Softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep against Southeastern (Fla.) University on Wednesday afternoon. Southeastern used a six-run first inning to take game one 12-3 in five innings before picking up a 3-0 shutout in the second game of the day. With the two losses, the Cougars drop to 11-10 on the season.

Like they have many times this year, Columbia jumped out to an early lead in the first inning of game one as Jamie Holmes led off with a base hit and came around to score on a two-out single by Taylor Atwood. The Fire responded quickly with six runs in the bottom of the first against starter Lauren McCroskie, who was relieved by Paxton Welch with one out in the frame. Southeastern plated five more runs in the second as Nicci Hopps followed up her first inning grand slam with a two-run home run to center field for an 11-1 lead. The Cougars picked up two runs in the fourth, but were unable to do any further damage against Fire starter Emily Bryant. Atwood finished with two of Columbia's five hits in the game.

Southeastern would plate a run in the first inning of game two and add two more in bottom of the sixth as Lauren West shut out the Cougars over seven innings, giving up just two hits and striking out five. Columbia starting pitcher Taylor Richter took the tough-luck loss in the circle after allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings. Carly Spalding and Marli Hayes had the Cougars' two hits in the contest.

Columbia will be off tomorrow and return to the diamond on Friday, March 28^th for a matchup against Warner (Fla.) University. First pitch for the doubleheader is scheduled for 1:00 pm CST in Lake Wales, Fla.