Columbia, Mo. – This afternoon the third ranked Columbia College softball team was back in action when they took on the University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in the first game of the 2017 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round. The Cougars, who earned the number one seed in the Columbia (Mo.) Bracket, were able to defeat the Patriots by a final score of 8-0 and improved to 44-5 on the season.
The Cougars dominated from the start of the game as they were able to score eight runs on 10 hits to remain unbeaten in postseason play. Columbia College came out in the first innings and retired the Patriots in order in the top of the inning before scoring three runs in the bottom half of the frame to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. They were able to add one more run in the bottom of the second inning when
Carly Spalding hit her seventh triple of the season and later came around to score to give the Cougars a 4-0 lead heading into the third.
Columbia College continued to put the ball in play as the game progressed and were able to add four runs to their lead in the bottom of the third inning to take an 8-0 advantage in the contest. The Patriots did all they could to get anything going at the plate but were unsuccessful as Columbia College was able to close them out down the final stretch to earn their 44
th win of the season.
Paxton Welch (20-4) was the starting pitcher in this game as she struck out five while facing the minimum number of batters in her eighth complete game shutout of the season. This marks the third time Welch has thrown a perfect game for the Cougars in her four years career.
Offensively, Columbia College was led by
Carly Spalding who went 2-3 with two runs scored and
Olivia Denslow who went 2-2 with an RBI. In addition, Spalding picked up her Columbia College record tying 54
th steal of the season when she swiped second base in the top of the first inning.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, May 16
th when they take on either the University of Mobile (Ala.) Rams or the Grand View (Iowa) University Vikings at 11 a.m. at the Antimi Softball Complex.
