Clermont, Fla. – This afternoon the second seeded Columbia College softball team was back in action when they traveled to Clermont, Florida, to compete in the NAIA Softball World Series. The Cougars, who came into this game on a 17 game winning streak, took on the Ottawa (Kan.) University Braves in the first game of the tournament. Columbia College was able to put together eight hits in the contest to defeat the Braves by a final score of 2-1 in an eight inning walk-off win.

The Cougars got off to a great start in the game as they were able to take an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Allyson Metz got the offense going as she led off the inning with a base hit up the middle for Columbia's first base runner of the game. Samantha Myers came in to pinch run for Metz and was able to score on error from the Braves to give Columbia the early lead. However, Ottawa responded to the Cougars run in the top of the fourth when they tied the game at one.

The score remained tied through seven innings of play and the game entered extra innings. The Braves threatened to score in the top of the eighth when they put two runners on with nobody out but Columbia was able to keep them off the board as the score remained 1-1 heading into the bottom half of the inning. Carly Spalding led off for Columbia in the bottom half of the frame and was able send the first pitch back up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Theresa DeCosty to get into scoring position. Molly Carter was the next batter up from Columbia and was able to keep the Cougars winning streak alive as she sent a line drive down the right field line scoring Spalding from second to give Columbia their first win of the 2017 NAIA Softball World Series.

Paxton Welch (22-4) was the starting pitcher in this one as the senior struck out three batters while allowing just two hits and no earned runs for her 19^th complete game of the season. Offensively, Columbia College was led by Carly Spalding who went 3-4 with a run scored. Spalding, who broke the Columbia College record for hits this season, has 16 hits in her past eight games.

The Cougars will return to action in the double elimination tournament on Monday, May 29^th when they take on Corban (Ore.) University in their second game of the NAIA Softball World Series. The game is set to start at 7:30 p.m. EDT in Clermont, Florida.