Shawnee, Okla. - The Columbia Cougar softball team picked up two wins today at the Saint Gregory's Invitational, defeating Briar Cliff University 9-1 in six innings, followed by a 2-1 eight inning victory over Doane College. Columbia improves to 7-0 on the season with the two wins.

The Chargers of Briar Cliff scored their lone run of the game at the top of the first inning, but the Cougars would record one run in the first and second inning, three in the fifth and four in the sixth to run away with the 9-1 victory in six innings.

The first run came across as Allyson Metz singled to left field to score Carly Spalding who led the inning off with a walk and advanced to second on a stolen base. Julianna Waldner brought in the second run after stroking a double to score Dakota Newton who reached base on a walk to make it a 2-1 game.

The Cougars erupted for three runs in the fifth on three hits, including triples by Spalding and Natalie Dummitt. Columbia wasn't finished there as they would plate four more runs in the sixth to put the game away for good.

Spalding, Metz, Molly Carter and Olivia Denslow had eight of the Cougars 10 hits after posting two apiece. Metz led the team with three RBI while Carter tallied two of her own. Lauren McCroskie (3-0) earned the win after allowing just three hits and striking out eight in five innings of work. Amber Boehme pitched one inning of relief and struck out two of the three batters to hold the Chargers scoreless in the sixth.

After two scoreless innings, Doane notched a run in the bottom of the third inning. The Cougars would respond with a run in the top of the fourth inning to knot the game. Metz led off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a stolen base. After moving to third on a grounder by Dummitt, Metz would come around to score as Denslow tripled to right field.

The Cougars had opportunities to score in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning, but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. In the seventh, Waldner led off with a double to left field and was sacrificed over to second by Newton. Doane's pitcher, Ellie Doughty was able to work her way out of the jam, holding the Cougars scoreless. The Tigers mirrored the Cougars in the bottom of the inning, putting a runner on second after a base hit and sacrifice bunt, but Paxton Welch retired the last two hitters to send the game into extra innings.

Spalding started out the top of the eighth on second base per the international tie breaker rule. Spalding scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Carter after being moved to third by Rachel Sullivan. Danielle Morrow started on second for the Tigers in the bottom of the eight and was sacrificed over by Brooklyn Travis. Makaela Moore then hit a deep ball to right where Sullivan would make the catch and throw Morrow out at the plate to end the game.

Kaylee Brueggeman led the Cougar offense after going 2-for-3. Spalding, Metz, Dummitt, Denslow and Waldner had one hit apiece. Welch (3-0) went the distance, pitching all eight innings for the Cougars. The junior hurler gave up just six hits and held the Tigers to zero earned runs while striking out two.

Columbia will be back in action tomorrow starting at 10:00 a.m. vs Doane College. The Cougars will wrap up tournament play against 11^th-ranked Saint Gregory's University at 2:00 p.m.