Henderson, Tenn. – Today the third ranked Columbia College softball team was back in action when they traveled to Henderson, Tennessee, to compete in the AMC Softball Championships at Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) University. The Cougars, who made it to the final site after sweeping the Lyon (Ark.) College Scots, were able to improve to 42-5 on the season after defeating the Park (Kan.) University Pirates by a final score of 9-5 and then defeating Freed-Hardeman University Lions by a final score of 3-2.

Prior to the games, the 2016-17 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District® Softball Team was released to recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. Lauren McCroskie and Rachel Sullivan, who are both Chemistry majors, received the recognition after McCroskie finished the year with a 3.69 GPA and Sullivan finished the year with a 3.82 GPA.

In their first game against the Pirates, the Cougars were able to put together 13 hits in their 9-5 victory. The Pirates got on the board first in the top of the first inning but the Cougars were able to tie the score at one in the bottom half of the frame when Carly Spalding singled and later came around to score on passed ball. Columbia College added four runs in the bottom of second inning and one run in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead into the fourth. The Pirates bounced back quickly in the top of the fourth and were able to cut the Cougars lead in half after scoring two runs in the inning but Columbia answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the frame and then added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 9-3 lead into the sixth. The Pirates did all they could to get back into the game and were able to put two runs on the board in the top of the sixth but that was as close as they would get as the Cougars closed them out down the stretch to remain unbeaten in the double elimination tournament.

Paxton Welch (18-4) was the starting pitcher in this game as she struck out four batters while allowing just six hits and four earned runs in 5.1 innings in the circle. Kaitlyn Nottelmann (2-0) came into relieve Welch in the top of the sixth inning and struck out one batter while allowing just two hits in the final 1.2 innings of the game. Offensively, the Cougars were led by Molly Carter who hit her team leading 13^th homerun of the season and Carly Spalding who went 3-4 with three runs scored.

In their second game against the Lions, Columbia put together eight hits in the 3-2 win. They got off to a great start in the game and were able to score a quick run in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead in the ballgame. The Lions bounced back quickly and were able to tie the game in the bottom of the third but one run from the Cougars in the bottom of the fourth gave Columbia a 2-1 lead through four innings of play. The Lions tied the game at two in the top of the fifth but solo homerun from Molly Carter (14) in the bottom half of the inning proved to be the difference in the game.

Lauren McCroskie (21-1) was the starting pitcher in this game as she struck out three batters while allowing just five hits in her 18^th complete game of the season. In addition, Alexandra Linck went 1-3 with an RBI and Carly Spalding picked up her 52^nd stolen base of the season which is just two away from the Columbia College's single season record of 54.

The Cougars will continue play in the AMC Softball Championships tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. at Freed-Hardeman University.