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Box Score 2 Parkville, Mo. – The Cougar Softball team split a conference doubleheader with second place Park (Mo.) University this afternoon, dropping game one 4-1 and winning game two 6-5. The split moves Columbia to 17-12 overall and 8-4 in the American Midwest Conference (AMC), while the Pirates now stand at 19-10 and 12-4 in league play.
The Pirates' center fielder, Britanee Willard put Park on the board as she led off with a triple and scored on a groundout for an early 1-0 lead in the first. Park would add two more runs in the third as Emilee Vance delivered a two-run double to right center.
Columbia responded in the fourth with a run cutting the Pirate's lead to 3-1.
Allyson Metz,
Taylor Atwood, and
Brittiany Tjarks all singled to begin the inning to load the bases.
Samantha Davis then drew a walk to score Metz to bring across their first and only run of the game. The Pirates plated one more run in the sixth on an RBI double by the pitcher, Allie Reynolds, while holding the Cougars scoreless in the seventh.
Paxton Welch (7-6) took the loss in the circle for Columbia after allowing four runs on eight hits while walking just one and striking out four in 6.0 innings of work.
Kaylee Brueggeman, Carly Spalding, Atwood, Metz, and
Tjarks had the Cougar's five hits in the contest.
The Pirates struck first again in game two, as Vance doubled to center field and scored on an RBI triple by catcher Lindsey Derry. Reynolds followed with an RBI double for the 2-0 advantage over the Cougars heading into the top of the third.
After a scoreless third inning, the Cougars were able to take advantage of two Pirate errors to knot the score at two.
Julianna Waldner singled to lead off the inning and Metz reached base on a throwing error by the third baseman while Waldner advanced to third. Atwood then flew out to move Metz to second and Hardy was walked to load the bases. Another fielding error by Park allowed Waldner to score and Davis followed with an RBI single to left field to score Metz.
The Cougars took their first lead of the day at the top of the fifth, as Spalding led off with a base hit, stole two bases, and scored on an RBI double by Metz. Atwood then singled down the left field line as Metz came around to score for a 4-2 lead. However, the Pirates didn't back down as they would score two runs on four hits at the bottom of the frame to again tie the score.
Columbia regained the lead at the top of the fifth as Davis led off with a double down the left field line and scored on an RBI single by
Rachel Sullivan. A sixth run would come across the plate as Spalding singled and scored on an RBI base hit up the middle by Metz. Park would pull within one on a solo-homerun by Lindsey Derry to make the score 6-5 headed into the seventh.
The Cougars were held scoreless at the top of the seventh as Park looked for a chance to make a comeback headed into the bottom. Columbia reliever,
Amber Boehme forced a popup for the first out and then walked the tying run. However, Boehme was able to retire the last two batters as the Cougars held on for the victory.
Lauren McCroskie picked up her fourth win of the season after allowing five runs on nine hits in 5.1 innings pitched, while Boehme earned her second save of the year, allowing one hit, one walk, while striking out two. Metz had two hits and two RBI while Spalding chipped in two hits and two runs scored. Davis also had two hits and one RBI in the win.
The Cougars return home on Friday, April 10 to take on Hannibal-LaGrange University (8-22, 2-10) at Antimi softball complex (black field) in a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m.
