Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College softball team split a pair of one run games against American Midwest Conference opponent Lindenwood University-Belleville this afternoon out at Antimi Softball Complex. The Cougars won the first game 2-1 after a walk off double by Tylin Stephens before dropping game two 2-1.
 
Columbia College would get on the board first as Carly Spalding led off with single, stole second, and scored on a squeeze bunt laid down by Taylor Atwood in the first inning.

The Lynx responded in the third inning with an RBI double by Kaylin Stewart to knot the score.The Cougars looked to go ahead in the bottom of the third, but could not capitalize on the opportunity. Kaylee Brueggeman doubled to deep left-center to lead the inning off and advanced to third on a passed ball. Spalding was then walked and moved to second on a stolen base. Lynx's starter Taylor Winn worked her way out of the jam after causing a fly ball and two groundouts to end the inning.

Columbia had another scoring opportunity in the fourth after Jessica Hardy led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, the Cougars couldn't get it done as Winn forced two popups in the infield for the last two outs.

The fifth inning almost mirrored the third as Brueggeman led off with a double and Spalding was walked to put runners on, but again couldn't get a run across.

The Lynx tried to take the lead in the seventh as Winn led off with a single to left-center. Two pitches later, catcher Taylor Atwood would fire the ball down to first and pick the runner off for a big first out. Starting pitcher Paxton Welch would cause a popup and an easy dribbler in the infield to get the Cougars out of the inning unharmed.

With one out, Spalding singled to right and again, advanced to second on a stolen base. With the speedy Spalding in scoring position, Stephens delivered a walk-off double to deep center to give the Cougars the 2-1 victory over the Lynx.

Welch earned her 11^th win in the circle, pitching her 14^th complete game of the season. The sophomore held the Lady Lynx to zero earned runs while striking out one. The Cougars had eight hits led by Spalding, Stephens and Brueggeman with two hits apiece.

In game two, it was the Lynx who scored first as Stewart doubled to deep right and came around to score on an RBI single by Winn. LU-B would took advantage of an error by Columbia in the third inning as Mikayla Conlin reached base on a misplayed grounder in the infield. Jordan Edwards was then walked and Marisa Cinquepalmi sacrificed the runners over to second and third. A groundout to the pitcher would allow Conlin to score for a 2-0 lead.

The Cougars had a hard time stringing together their offense as they stranded a runner in the second and third innings and two runners in the fourth. However, they would cut the Lynx lead in half after plating a run in the fifth inning. Samantha Davis led the inning off with a double to deep left-center and Brueggeman followed with an infield single. Spalding then bunted and reached on a base hit to load the bases. With two outs, Allyson Metz singled to left field to score Davis to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Starting pitcher Michele Pilster would get out of the inning without any further damage after causing a popup for the third out.

Columbia College had the chance to tie the ballgame in the sixth as Hardy doubled down the right field line to begin the inning, but Pilster would work her way out of the inning with a strikeout, a caught line drive, and a ground out.

After holding the Lynx scoreless in the seventh, the Cougars looked to come from behind for the win as Brueggeman doubled down the left field line, but again Pilster would get out of the inning after a lineout, ground out, and pop up in the infield to end the game.

Lauren McCroskie pitched the full seven innings and allowed one earned run while striking out one. Spalding, Metz, and Brueggeman led the Cougars at the plate with two hits apiece.

The Cougars will return to action, tomorrow April 18^th as they host St. Louis College of Pharmacy in their last regular season American Midwest Conference matchup. The doubleheader location and times have been changed and will be played at Battle High School beginning at 10:00 a.m.