Walnut Ridge, Ark. – The Cougar Softball team kicked off conference play with a split against Williams Baptist College on Monday afternoon, falling 5-4 in game one before bouncing back to win game two by a score of 9-5. Columbia moves to 6-7 on the season and 2-0 in league play.

Carly Spalding got things started for the Cougars with a leadoff single and stole second in the top of the first inning of game one. She would come home on a double to deep right-center by Julianna Waldner for a 1-0 lead. With Waldner in scoring position, Taylor Atwood followed with an RBI single to bring her around to score for an early 2-0 advantage. Brittiany Tjarks added another run in the second inning when she started the top of the inning off with a solo homerun.

The Eagles began to chip away at the Columbia lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Catie Burleson hit a homer of her own to make the score 3-1.

Columbia added their fourth run in the fifth as Spalding singled to right and advanced to third after Waldner singled to right. Spalding then came around to score on a ground-out. Williams Baptist plated a pair of runs to cut the deficit in the bottom of the frame. After a scoreless sixth inning, the Eagles held the Cougars hitless and headed into the bottom of the seventh with a chance to take the game.

Jordyn Barkowsky reached base on a Columbia error toand advanced to second on a groundout to begin the inning. Kylie Underwood followed with a single to center to score Barkowsky and tied the game at four. With two outs, Catie Burleson singled to center as Underwood came around to score for the walk-off hit.

Paxton Welch suffered the hard-luck loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in 6.2 innings. Columbia was limited to seven hits in the contest, led by Spalding with two hits and two runs, Waldner with a pair of hits, one RBI, and a run, and Tjarks with two hits, one RBI, and a run. Atwood rounded out the offense for the Cougars with one hit and two RBIs.

The Cougars struck first again in game two as Spalding led off with a single to left and advanced to second on a stolen base. She later came around to score as Atwood singled down the left field line. Tylin Stephens led off the top of the second with a double down the left field line and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Samantha Davis for a 2-0 Cougar lead. Columbia added two more runs in the third after Spalding hit a solo homer over the center field fence on a 1-1 count and Allyson Metz scored on a groundout after singling to center.

Columbia extended their lead at the top of the fourth as Samantha Davis singled down the right field line to begin the inning and later scored on an infield grounder hit by Spalding. Waldner followed with a double to deep right to score both Spalding and Kaylee Brueggeman for a commanding 7-0 lead. The Eagles were able to get on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on three hits to cut the deficit to 7-2. The Cougars added two more runs at the top of the seventh as Stephens hit a two-run single to score Sullivan and Atwood. The Eagles would respond with three more runs in the bottom of the frame, but Columbia starter Lauren McCroskie was able to hold on for the win.

McCroskie threw complete seven innings to earn the complete game win. The Columbia offense finished with 11 hits in the game, led by Atwood with three hits, an RBI, and a run. Spalding added two hits and two RBIs while Stephens also had a pair of hits with three RBIs.

Columbia will travel to Lyon College for another conference doubleheader tomorrow, March 17^th. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Batesville, Ark.