Columbia, Mo. – Over the past two days the Columbia College softball team had fought their way to earning a spot in the National Tournament Opening Round Championship gameday against the Valley City State (N.D.) University Vikings. The Cougars were looking to avenge their previous 5-3 loss to the Vikings that put them into elimination play. Columbia would need to sweep the Vikings in a doubleheader to advance to the 39th Annual NAIA Softball World Series final site. The Cougars were unable to overcome the Vikings as they fell 7-2. Columbia finishes 37-12 on the season.
Championship Wednesday was in full swing as the Vikings quickly put two runs on the board. The Vikings bats were all over the ball in the top of the first. Just like yesterday, senior Natalie Dummitt was protecting her field as she fielded a ball in left field followed by a perfect throw home, where the runner stood no chance at getting past senior catcher Olivia Denslow. Columbia was able to hold the Vikings to those two runs as Dummitt made a running catch to end the top half of the inning. Entering the fourth inning the Cougars still trailed by two, as they were searching for that burst of energy in their offense. In the top of the sixth the Vikings drove in two more runs to extend their lead 4-0. With one out in the top of the inning, Madison Ramsey came in to take over for Nottlemann. Ramsey quickly helped secure the final two outs of the inning to bring the Cougars back to the plate. The Cougars were unable to convert in the bottom of the inning, as the score remained 4-0. In the top of the seventh, the Vikings were stretching their lead as two more runs came in making it 6-0 with zero outs in the inning as Lexi Dickerson re-entered the game to pitch. Going into the bottom of the seventh the Cougars were in need of a late surge as they trailed 7-0. Molly Carter started things off with a single to left field. Columbia loaded up the bases with zero outs and was able to bring in two runs, but that was all they could do as they fell 7-2.
Lexi Dickerson faced three batters before Kaitlyn Nottelmann came in to take over the mound. Nottelmann allowed four hits, two earned runs, and struck out three batters in her 5.1 innings of work. Madison Ramsey came in for a brief stint before Dickerson took the mound back over for the end of the game. Offensively, Molly Carter went 1-3 with one run scored, Mackenzie Kasarda went 1-2, and Natalie Dummitt was 1-2 with one run scored. Allison Keen and Avgustina Arbova each chipped in an RBI.
This concludes the Cougars season. After an excellent season, they finish the year out with a record of 37-12. The Cougar community would like to extend another thank you to our four softball seniors for all of their hard work and dedication to the program. Congratulations on all your accomplishments over the years. You represented Columbia with class on and off the field.
