Columbia, Mo. – This afternoon the second ranked Columbia College softball team was back in action when they played host to the Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) University Trojans in an AMC doubleheader. The Cougars, who came into this game with a 15-1 record in conference play, where able to sweep the Trojans as they defeated them in the first game by a final score of 11-0 in five innings and then in the second game by a final score of 9-1 also in five innings. With the sweep, Columbia improves to 32-5 on the season.

In their first game against the Trojans, the Cougars were able to put together 11 runs on 11 hits while only giving up one base hit to Hannibal-LaGrange. Columbia College scored three runs in the first, one run in the second, and seven runs in the third as they cruised to their 16^th conference win of the season. Paxton Welch (13-4) was the starting pitcher in this one for Columbia as she struck out five batters while allowing just one hit in four innings of work for her 13^th win of the season. Kaitlyn Nottelmann (2-0) came in relief of Welch in the fifth inning to help close out the shutout. Offensively, the Cougars were led by Molly Carter who went 3-3, including a solo homerun, with four RBI's and Alexandra Linck who went 2-3 with a two-run homerun and one run scored. Rachel Sullivan also chipped in two hits, two runs and an RBI in the victory.

In their second game against the Trojans, Hannibal-LaGrange came out in the top of the first inning and were able to score one run to take an early lead in the game. However, the Cougars bounced back quickly as Carly Spalding opened the inning with a solo shot to tie the game at one. Columbia was able to add one more run in the bottom of the first inning and then scored two in the second, one in the third, and four runs in the fifth to solidify the two game sweep. Lauren McCroskie (16-1) was in the circle for the Cougars in this one as she struck out six batters while allowing just four hits and no earned runs in five innings of work. In addition, Molly Carter had her second straight four RBI game while Rachel Sullivan went 2-3 with an RBI and Juliana Waldner and Alexandra Linck posted two hits apiece.  

With her two home runs and eight RBI on the day, Molly Carter has set two new Columbia College softball records for home runs in a single season and RBI in a single season. Molly hit her record tying 11^th homerun in the first game and her record breaking shot in the second game today. The sophomore from Columbia, Missouri breaks the record that has stood for 13 years. Her now 65 runs batted in breaks the old record of 64 that was set in 1996 and tied in 2005.

The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, April 15^th when they host the 19^th ranked Williams Baptist (Ark.) College Eagles in an AMC doubleheader. This game will serve as senior day for the softball team and before the game we will honor the seniors for their hard work and dedication to the program. The first game of the doubleheader is set to start at 1 p.m. with the second game to follow.