Shawnee, Okla. - The Cougar Softball team suffered a pair of losses on day two of the Oklahoma Baptist Valentine Festival. Columbia fell to University of Science and Arts 3-1 in their first game of the day before dropping a game to 6^th ranked St. Gregory by a score of 9-3. The Cougars are now 1-3 on the year.

Columbia was able to take an early lead in the top if the first inning against The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma as Carly Spalding led off with a walk and came around to score on an RBI single by Rachel Sullivan.

After three scoreless innings, the Ravers responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth off of three hits including a triple and a double for a 3-1 advantage. Columbia failed to answer, as they were shutout the last two innings.

Paxton Welch went the full six innings in the circle for the Cougars, allowing three runs on six hits and while walking three. The Cougars were held to two hits in the game.

In game two, St. Gregory got on the board in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Cougars had a runner on first with one out, but could not cash in on the opportunity as St. Gregory's pitcher Ashli Hafford recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat. The Cavaliers added five more runs in the bottom of the second off of two hits while capitalizing on two Cougar errors for a 6-0 advantage. St. Gregory went up 9-0 after adding three runs in bottom of the third.

Columbia facing a possible run rule, brought in two runs as Maria Imhoff led off with a deep double to left field and advanced to third on a single up the middle by Kaylee Brueggeman. Imhoff and Brueggeman scored on a misplayed grounder to make the score 9-2 headed into the bottom of the fifth.

Columbia added one last run at the top of the seventh as Spalding ripped a triple and later came around to score as Paige Kleffner singled to center. However the Cougars were unable to make a comeback as the sixth ranked Cavaliers pulled away with the win.

Amber Boehme took the loss in the circle for the Cougars after allowing five runs on two hits in her one inning of work. Jessica Hardy and Spalding had two of Columbia's eight hits.  

The Cougars head will down to Conway, Ark. next weekend to play four more games. Columbia will face Evangel University in a non-conference matchup at 2 p.m. and Central Baptist College at 4 p.m. on Friday, February 20^th. On Saturday, February 21^st they will play Hannibal-LaGrange Unviersity at 11:00 a.m. and Ecclesia College at 1 p.m.