Box Score Fayette, Mo. – The Columbia College softball team was back in action this afternoon when they continued play in the 2018 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round against the sixth ranked Hope International (Calif.) University Royals in Fayette, Missouri. The Cougars, who defeated Central Methodist (Mo.) University in their first game of the opening round, were able to improve to 2-0 as they defeated the Royals by a final score of 6-3 to improve to 32-14 on the season.
Columbia College was able to put together 10 hits in the 6-3 win. The Royals got off to a quick start in this one they scored a run in the top of the first to take an early 1-0 lead. The Cougars bounced back and were able to score two runs in the bottom of the second thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles from Olivia Denslow and Natalie Dummitt to take a 2-0 lead. They continued to put the ball in play and were able to add three runs in the bottom of the third and one run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead into the fifth. Despite being down, the Royals battled back and were able to cut the lead to 6-3 in the top of the fifth but that was as close as they would get as the Cougars closed them out down the stretch to stay unbeaten in the opening round.
Molly Carter (7-3) got the start in this one as she allowed just six hits and three earned runs while striking out two in 4.0 innings in the circle. Kaitlyn Nottelmann (10-8) came in to relieve Carter as she allowed just one hit while striking out six in the final 3.0 innings of the game. Offensively, Alexandra Linck went 1-2 with a solo homerun, Rachel Sullivan went 1-4 with an RBI, Molly Carter went 2-4 with an RBI, Olivia Denslow went 2-3 with an RBI, Natalie Dummitt went 1-2 with an RBI, and Julianna Waldner had an RBI to round out the top performers for Columbia.
The softball team is back in action tomorrow, May 16th when they continue play in the 2018 NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round in Fayette, Missouri. The Cougars will take on the winner of the matchup between Hope International and Central Methodist starting at approximately 1 p.m.
