Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Columbia, Mo. - The Cougar Softball team saw their season come to an end today at the opening round of the 2014 NAIA Softball National Championship. The third-seeded Cougars defeated No. 4 seed Morningside (Iowa) College 6-5 in their first elimination game of the day before falling to No. 2 seed Central Methodist 4-2. Columbia finishes the 2014 season with a record of 31-18.
 
The Cougars scored in each of the first four innings to take a 6-2 lead against Morningside as Brittiany Tjarks and Jamie Holmes each contributed an RBI double in a three-run third inning for Columbia. Kayla Salonen would connect on a three-run home run in the top half of the fifth to cut the Cougar advantage to 6-5. Paxton Welch came in to relieve Columbia starter Lauren McCroskie with one out in the fifth and shut out the Mustangs over the final 2.2 innings to preserve the victory and pick up the save for the Cougars. Kristin Eiken paced the Columbia offense with two hits and two RBI, while Jamie Holmes and Whitni Howell also collected two hits apiece. McCroskie (7-6) allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out two to earn the win in the circle.
 
Top seed LSU-Alexandria rallied for a 7-3 victory over Central Methodist in Tuesday's early game to set up an elimination game between the Cougars and Eagles in the final game of the day.
 
Columbia plated the game's first run in the top of the second inning as Eiken scored on a passed ball by CMU catcher Michelle Rupard. The Eagles battled back to take the lead on a pair of solo home runs in the bottom of the third by Lindy Adair and Bri Boatwright. Trailing 2-1, the Cougars were able to even the score on a two-out RBI single by Kaylee Brueggeman in the top of the fourth. The tie score would hold up until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Central Methodist cleanup hitter Lauren Geringer launched a two-run home run to left field for a 4-2 Eagles lead. Columbia mounted one more rally in the top of the seventh as Carly Spalding and Marli Hayes reached base to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with one out. After a fielder's choice by Taylor Atwood, Eiken came to the plate and fouled off several pitches before flying out to deep right field to seal the win for the Eagles.
 
Aubrey Utley (26-2) earned her second complete game victory over the Cougars in as many days after giving up two runs over seven innings. Central Methodist finished with seven hits in the game, including the three home runs by Adair, Boatwright, and Geringer. Richter (4-5) suffered the tough-luck loss in her final game for Columbia, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
 
Tuesday night's game marked the final game for Richter, Eiken, Holmes, Howell, and fellow senior Marli Hayes.
 
The Eagles (43-7) advance to Wednesday's championship game for a rematch with LSU-Alexandria. First pitch is set for noon with an if-necessary game scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at Columbia's Antimi Black Softball Field. For the complete tournament bracket and latest results, visit this link.