Fort Worth, Texas – The fourth ranked Columbia College softball team was back in action today as they opened the season with a doubleheader in the 2019 Cowtown Classic held in Fort Worth, Texas. The Cougars, who went 37-16 last season as well as finishing Runner-Up in the 2018 NAIA Softball World Series, went 2-0 on the day to kick off the 2019 season.
In the first game of the day, the Cougars took on the Louisiana State University-Alexandria Generals. Columbia got their first win of the season in commanding fashion 9-1. The Generals took the early 1-0 lead after the first inning, but the Cougars were able to take a 2-1 lead in the second and never looked back. They went on to grab one run in the third, four in the fourth, one in the fifth, and two more in the seventh, all while holding the Generals scoreless after the first inning. Columbia gathered nine runs on eight hits, while Libby Marko went 3-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, Molly Carter went 3-5 with two runs scored and one RBI, and Jacey Meyer went 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Lexi Dickerson (1-0) got the win as she allowed six hits and one earned run, while striking out four batters in seven innings on the mound.
In the second game of the day, they faced the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles. The Cougars were able to outlast the Eagles with a 5-4 victory. The Eagles took the early lead in the first 1-0, but Columbia answered quickly with two runs in the top of the second. In the bottom of the second, the Eagles tied it back up at 2, however in the fourth inning a double hit by Olivia Denslow cleared the bases, putting the Cougars up 5-3. The Eagles were able to snag one more run, but that would be as close as they would get as the Cougars held on to win 5-4. Libby Marko went 1-2 with one run scored and one RBI, Olivia Denslow went 1-4 with three RBIs, Natalie Dummitt went 1-3 with one run scored, Avgustina Arbova and Jacey Meyer went 1-4 with one run scored each, and Mackenzie Kasarda went 2-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Kaitlyn Nottelmann was on the mound as she got the win, while allowing just four hits, one earned run, and struck out six batters in seven innings of play.
The Cougars are back in action tomorrow morning when they take on Avila University (Mo.) at 8 a.m., Morningside College (Iowa) at 12 p.m., and Oklahoma Panhandle State University at 4 p.m. on the second and final day of the 2019 Cowtown Classic.
