Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Springfield, Ill. - The Columbia Softball team picked up their second doubleheader sweep in as many days with a pair of wins at Benedictine University-Springfield this past Saturday. The Cougar offense pounded out 14 hits in a 10-1 game one victory and followed that up with a 5-3 win in game two. Columbia improves to 22-11 (14-2 AMC) with the two victories and has now won 11 of 12 games dating back to March 28^th. 
 
The Cougars used a four-run second inning to take control of the first game. Whitni Howell scored the game's first run on a two-out RBI single by Brittiany Tjarks, who then came around on Kaylee Brueggeman's RBI triple to right. Jamie Holmes capped off the scoring with a two-run home run to right field for a 4-0 lead. Columbia scored two more runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to build a 7-0 advantage for starting pitcher Lauren McCroskie. The Cougars plated three more runs in the top of the seventh and McCroskie finished things off in the bottom of the frame for her fourth complete game of the season.
 
McCroskie (4-4) allowed just one unearned run on four hits in her seven innings, while striking out five and walking two batters. Marli Hayes had three of Columbia's 14 hits and Holmes finished with a team-high three RBI.  
 
In game two, the Cougars took another early lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Bulldogs battled back to take a 3-2 lead with a run in the second and two in the fifth against Columbia starter Tiffany Urwiler. That lead was short-lived as Tjarks connected on her team-leading sixth home run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at 3-3. Reliever Amber Boehme held Benedictine scoreless in the top half of the sixth and Kristin Eiken delivered a two-run home run to center in bottom of the inning to put the Cougars back on top 5-3. The Bulldogs put a pair of runners on base in the seventh, but Boehme was able to strike out Katie Stapleton to end the threat and pick up the win for Columbia.
 
Boehme (5-2) came out of the bullpen to shut out Benedictine over the final 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and striking out four. Taylor Atwood was a perfect 3 for 3 to lead the Cougar offense, which finished with seven hits.  
 
Columbia will take on crosstown foe Stephens College tomorrow in a conference doubleheader after the teams were rained out on April 8^th. The two squads will resume their first game in the second inning, starting at noon at American Legion Park.