Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College softball squad picked up their third American Midwest Conference (AMC) sweep of the season over Hannibal-LaGrange University this afternoon. The Cougars took game one 6-5 and game two 5-4. With the two victories, Columbia improved to 19-12 on the season and 10-4 in conference play.

The Trojans jumped on top early in the first after Kristen Lee delivered a two out solo homer. The Cougars failed to string any offense together until the fifth inning when Kaylee Brueggeman hit a two-run homer and Carly Spalding followed with a solo home run for a 3-1 advantage over the Trojans. Back-to-back hits from Tylin Stephens and Allyson Metz put runners on first and second with one out. Senior Taylor Atwood then doubled to left center to score Stephens while Jessica Hardy plated the last run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to score Metz for a 5-1 lead.

Hannibal answered in the seventh when they tied the game at five on a three-run home run by Gabby Akright. The Cougars responded right back in the bottom of the frame as Spalding reached on a bunt base hit and scored on an RBI single by Metz to end the game.

Sophomore hurler Paxton Welch picked up her eighth win of the season after allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five. Metz led the offensive attack after going 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored while Spalding had two hits, two runs scored, and one RBI.

The Cougars scored the first runs in game two after an RBI double by Metz and a one run single by Hardy in the first. After two scoreless innings, Atwood doubled to deep left-center and Brueggeman entered the game to pinch run. Brueggeman then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Hardy and scored on a single to shallow left by Stephens.

Hannibal-LaGrange trimmed the Cougar lead in the fifth after a two-run home run by Kristen Lee. Spalding would get one run back in the bottom of the inning after leading off with a triple and scoring on a bad throw from the outfield.

The Trojans hung around in the sixth as Kayla Meier doubled to deep right-center and advanced to third on a passed ball. Hannah Trump then singled to third to score Meier to make the score 4-3. Columbia would add to their lead in the bottom as Hardy drew a walk and Samantha Davis singled to bring around pinch runner Paige Kleffner to score.

Hannibal-LaGrange continued to test the Cougars in the seventh as Gabby Akright singled, advanced to third on a double by Lee, and scored on a passed ball to pull the Trojans within one at 5-4. Columbia caught a break for out number two as Lee was hit by a batted ball as she was trying to get back to the bag. Reliever Lauren McCroskie was able to force a ground ball for out number three as the Cougars came away with the conference sweep.

Amber Boehme claimed the win in the circle for the Cougars after allowing three runs on ten hits while striking out eight. McCroskie earned the save after allowing zero runs and only one hit. Spalding, Metz, Atwood, Hardy, Stephens, and Davis had Columbia's six hits.

Columbia will continue conference action tomorrow, April 11^th when they host Benedictine-Springfield in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. at Antimi softball complex (black field).