Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar Softball team split a pair of games at the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Postseason Tournament on Thursday afternoon. Columbia fell to Park University 4-3 in their first game of the day before rebounding to defeat Freed-Hardeman University 5-4 in game two. With the split, the Cougars move to 29-15 on the season.
 
In game one, Columbia loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the first inning and was able to push two runs across on a throwing error by Park second baseman Megan Palmer for an early 2-0 lead. The Pirates answered back in the bottom of the first as Emilee Vance connected on a towering three-run home run to left field for a 3-2 Park advantage. After a scoreless second inning, the Cougars evened the score in the top of the third as Lauren McCroskie delivered a two-out RBI single to bring home pinch runner Paige Kleffner. The 3-3 tie would hold up until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Park's Shae Boyd came through with a based loaded single to right to plate the go-ahead run. Columbia rallied to load the bases with two outs in the top half of the seventh, prompting a pitching change for the Pirates. Reliever Kelli Wenberg came in and fell behind 3-1 to Kaylee Brueggeman, but would force a pop-up on a full count to end the threat and preserve the win for Park. McCroskie (6-5) suffered the loss in the circle for the Cougars, allowing four runs on ten hits in six innings. Taylor Atwood finished with two of Columbia's six hits in the game.
 
The Cougars squared off with Freed-Hardeman in an elimination game after the Lady Lions fell to top seed William Woods 3-2 in eight innings in Thursday's other early game. Columbia again jumped out an early lead with a run in the first and two more in the second. Cougars starting pitcher Taylor Richter held the Freed-Hardeman offense in check through the first three innings, but a three-run home run by Bailey Morgan in the bottom of the fourth tied the score at 3-3. Columbia responded quickly in the top of the fifth as Marli Hayes launched a two-run home run to center field to put the Cougars back on top 5-3. The Lady Lions cut the deficit in half with a run in the bottom of the frame, but Richter would retire seven of the final eight hitters she faced to complete the victory and pick up her fourth win of the season. Jamie Holmes paced the Columbia offense with two hits and an RBI out of the leadoff spot.
 
William Woods defeated Park 6-3 in Thursday's other contest to earn a spot in the tournament championship game, setting up an elimination game between the Cougars and Pirates at noon on Friday. All of Friday's games will be played at Antimi Black Field in Columbia. For the complete tournament bracket and results, visit www.amcsportsonline.com.