Columbia, Mo. – The Columbia College softball team hosted the William Penn University Statesmen in a nonconference doubleheader this afternoon. The Cougars took game one 9-1 in five innings and held the Statesmen off in game two 5-3. Columbia is now 15-7 on the season and 6-0 in conference play.
In game one Molly Carter got the Cougars on the board 1-0 in the first with a solo homerun. In the top of the second the Statesmen were able to bring a run in to tie the game 1-1. The Cougars had been held scoreless since their lone run in the first inning, until in the fourth they were able to drive in two runs to lead 3-1. Columbia's offense continued in the fifth as Carter started the inning knocking another solo homer. The Cougars were cruising as the fifth played out, crossing the plate multiple times. Carter made it back to the plate in the inning and doubled to drive in another run, ending the game in five innings with a score of 9-1.
Lexi Dickerson was on the mound as she allowed three hits, one earned run, and stuck out six batters. Offensively, Libby Marko went 2-4 with one run scored and two RBIs, Olivia Denslow was 1-3, Molly Carter was 3-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs, Mackenzie Kasarda was 1-3 with one run scored, Jacey Meyer was 2-2 with one run scored, Avgustina Arbova went 1-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, Karolina Arbova was 2-2 with one run scored and two RBIs, and Samantha Myers had a run scored.
In game two each side's defense was holding tight as the first four and a half innings were scoreless. In the bottom of the fifth the Cougars replaced their goose egg with one run to hold a 1-0 lead going into the sixth. The Statesmen rallied right back in the top of the sixth taking a 2-1 lead. Columbia had an answer for the Statesmen in the bottom of the inning as they drove in four runs to go up 5-2 entering the final inning. The Statesmen grabbed one run in the top of the seventh, but the Cougars were able to fend them off to secure the 5-3 victory.
Molly Carter started on the mound as she allowed six hits, two earned runs, and struck out three batters in 6.1 innings of work. Kaitlyn Nottelmann relieved Carter as she and the Cougars secured the final two outs of the game. Offensively, Olivia Denslow went 1-3 with one run scored, Molly Carter went 1-3 with one run scored and one RBI, Mackenzie Kasarda went 2-3 with one run scored and one RBI, Natalie Dummitt was 1-3 with one run scored and one RBI, Jacey Meyer and Avgustina Arbova were 1-3, Allison Keen was 1-2, and Karolina Arbova went 1-3 with one RBI.
The Cougars are back in action on Friday, March 29th when they travel to St. Louis, Missouri to take on the Missouri Baptist University Spartans in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
