Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia Softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep against American Midwest Conference (AMC) foe Park University on Tuesday afternoon at Antimi Softball Complex. The Cougars fell in game one by a score of 3-2 while the Pirates used a six-run first inning to take game two 7-5. With the two losses, the Cougars drop to 10-8 on the season and 2-2 in conference play.

In game one, Park struck for three runs at the top of the first inning. Britanee Willard was hit by a pitch to begin the inning and eventually scored on an RBI single by Katie Carr. Shelby Bendure rounded out the scoring for the Pirates as she hit a two-run homer over the left field fence.

After stranding runners in the second and third inning, Columbia finally got on the board as Molly Carter led off with a double, advanced to second on a single by Natalie Dummitt and scored thanks to an illegal pitch. Columbia added a second run in the fifth inning as Carly Spalding doubled to left with two outs and scored on a double by Rachel Sullivan.

The Cougars were able to put runners on in the sixth and seventh inning, but couldn't string together the offense as the Pirates pulled away with the 3-2 win.

Paxton Welch (4-5) went the distance on the mound, allowing just four hits and striking out one. Carter led the offense after going 2-for-3 with one run scored.

In game two, the Pirates scored all the runs they needed in the first inning after plating six runs on five hits. Allyson Metz got the scoring started for the Cougars as she ripped a two-run homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the first, making it 6-2. Julianna Waldner added a third run on a solo bomb to center in the bottom of the second, slicing the Pirate's lead in half. The Cougars cut the deficit to two in the third inning as Metz singled to center and pinch runner Angelica Serles scored on a triple to right by Natalie Dummitt.

Columbia deserted two runners in the fourth and one runner in the fifth and sixth inning, but couldn't come through with a run. After three scoreless innings, the Pirates notched a run in the top of the seventh on a solo homerun by Mallory Land to go ahead 7-4. In the bottom of the inning, Carter singled to right with two outs looking to make a comeback, but Park forced a groundout to end the game.

Amber Boehme (2-2) picked up the loss in the circle. Lauren McCroskie pitched six innings of relief and recorded one strikeout. Columbia outhit the Pirates 12-10 and was led by Carter with three hits. Spalding, Metz, Dummitt, and Waldner chipped in two hits apiece while Kaylee Brueggeman had one hit.

The Cougars will return to the diamond Friday, March 18^th to host Harris-Stowe State University in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. at Antimi Softball Complex (black field).