Belleville, Ill. - The Cougar Softball team came out victorious in the first two games against No. 3 seeded Lindenwood University-Belleville on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Postseason Tournament. Columbia held on to win the first game 1-0 before taking game two 8-4, knocking the Lynx out of the tournament. The Cougars, the No. 6 seed, moves to 27-19 on the year with the sweep and will advance to the semifinal round.
Paxton Welch went the distance in both games, earning two wins to move her overall record to 13-11 on the season. The junior pitched a two hitter to lead the Cougars to a victory in the first game of the day. She followed that up with another outstanding performance as she scattered six hits, allowed just two earned runs, and struck out one batter in the second contest.
The Cougars posted six hits and left nine runners stranded but could only push one run across in game one. Columbia's lone score of the contest came in the top of the first inning as Rachel Sullivan singled to center, stole second and eventually crossed the plate on a misplayed grounder by the Lynx.
Columbia had a chance to extend their lead in the fifth inning after Kaylee Brueggeman and Allyson Metz were both walked and Carly Spalding singled to load the bases. However, Lynx starting pitcher Taylor Winn would work her way out of the jam unharmed.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Lynx threatened to score as Amanda Velasquiez singled to left and pinch runner Ajah Douglas stole second, putting pressure on the Cougars. With two outs, Payton Curtis entered the game to pinch hit. With a 0-1 count, Curtis ripped a ball that looked to be going over the fence, but centerfielder Carly Spalding reached over and robbed what would have been a walk off home run allowing the Cougars to hold on for the first game win.
Spalding led the offense with two hits while Sullivan, Molly Carter, Lauren McCroskie, and Dakota Newton added one hit apiece.
In game two it was the Lynx taking an early lead as the squad struck for two runs in the top of the first inning. Columbia answered back with two runs of their own on four hits in the bottom of the first. Sullivan doubled to left to lead things off and scored on a single by Spalding. Metz drove in the second run on a single up the middle.
After holding the Lynx scoreless in the second, the Cougars tallied two more runs in the bottom of the frame as Sullivan and Spalding hit back-to-back singles and both scored on a triple by Carter.
Following two scoreless innings, LU-B tied things up in the fifth as the squad recorded two runs on one hit and a wild throw by the Cougars. With the game knotted at four, Columbia would head to the plate in hopes of grabbing the lead back and that is just what they did. Three walks would load the bases for Metz who took advantage and stroked a base clearing double down the right field line, giving the Cougars a 7-4 lead over the Lynx.
Columbia added one last run in the bottom of the sixth as Brueggeman reached base on a walk and eventually scored on a wild throw by the Lynx.
Although the Lynx would put two runners on in the sixth, the squad could not capitalize as the Cougars would go on to win 8-4.
Metz led the offensive efforts with three hits and four RBI while Sullivan, Spalding and McCroskie added two hits apiece.
Columbia will return to action in the AMC Tournament on Thursday, May 5th when they take on either No. 2 seed Williams Baptist College or No. 7 seed William Woods in bracket play starting at noon. After the top four teams in the tournament win their quarterfinal contests, they will enter a double-elimination bracket with all games taking place at City of Colleges Park in Conway, Ark. For a complete tournament bracket visit www.amcsportsonline.com.
