Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep against American Midwest Conference (AMC) foe Central Baptist College Saturday afternoon at Antimi Softball Complex. The Cougars fell in game one by a score of 7-6 before dropping the second game 7-3. The losses move Columbia to 23-19 on the season and 13-9 in conference play while the Mustangs improve to 24-26 overall and 13-9 in league play.
After four and a half innings of play, the Mustangs held a 4-0 advantage over the Cougars after notching two runs in the first and one in the third and fifth. Columbia finally got their bats going in the bottom of the fifth as the squad erupted for five runs to grab a 5-4 lead over the visiting squad.
Three consecutive hits by Julianna Waldner, Lauren McCroskie and Dakota Newton loaded the bases at the top of the fifth. Kaylee Brueggeman followed with a single to score Waldner for the first run of the game. McCroskie then crossed the plate after tagging up on a deep foul ball hit by Rachel Sullivan. Carly Spalding kept the offense going as she singled to center field to load the bases yet again. Molly Carter came through big as the freshman stepped in the box and ripped a two-run double to tie the game at four. Allyson Metz rounded out the scoring in the inning as she grounded out to plate Spalding for the go ahead run.
Errors plagued the Cougars in the sixth inning as three straight infield miscues allowed the Mustangs to load the bases with no outs. Back-to-back hits by Beth Jones and Kaylee St. John brought two runs across the board to give CBC a 6-5 advantage. Another Cougar error aided in the scoring of Cali Lankford for the 7-5 lead to end the inning. In the bottom of the frame, Columbia would be able to score another run, cutting the deficit to one as Waldner singled and eventually scored on a base hit by Sullivan.
The score would stand as neither team could add to the score in the seventh, allowing the Mustangs to pull away with the 7-6 victory.
Paxton Welch took the loss in the circle, scattering nine hits and holding the Mustangs to just two earned runs in the game. The Cougars tallied nine hits in the contest led by Sullivan and Waldner with two apiece.
The Mustangs would go on to take game two by a score of 7-3 after using 10 hits to plate three runs in the third and four in the fifth. Columbia posted nine hits in the loss led by Spalding Carter and Brueggeman with two hits apiece.
Starting pitcher Lauren McCroskie picked up the loss in the circle after allowing eight hits in four innings of work. Amber Boehme entered the game in relief and gave up two hits in three innings.
Prior to Saturday's games, Columbia seniors Kaylee Brueggeman and Amber Boehme were recognized for senior day.
The Cougars will close out the regular season on Tuesday, April 19th when they take on Harris-Stowe State University. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Antimi Softball Complex.
