Chickasha, Okla. – The No. 6-ranked Columbia College softball team picked up two wins on day one of the USAO Invitational on Friday.
 
The Cougars are now 5-2 on the season and have won four-straight.
 
Game 1: (6) Columbia def. (3) Science & Arts, 8-1
The Scoring:

• T3 (CC) – Taylor Barnes doubled home Jacey Meyer to open the scoring. Barnes later scored on a Kaylie Kaufman double. (CC 2, USAO 0)
• B3 (USAO) – The Drovers got on the board as S. Meely stole home (CC 2, USAO 1)
• T4 (CC) – Jacey Meyer hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Abigail Pringer. Avgustina Arbova then connected on a pitch and sent it over the left field wall for a three-run home run. (CC 6, USAO 1)
• T5 (CC) – Athena Wheeler hit her second home run of the season over the center field fence. (CC 7, USAO 1)
• T7 (CC) – Mackenzie Kasarda drove in Barnes to give Columbia the seven-run advantage. (CC 8, USAO 1)

 
Individual Leaders:

• Taylor Barnes went 2-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
• Avgustina Arbova and Athena Wheeler both hit their second home run on the season.
• A. Arbova led the Cougars with three RBIs, while Barnes, Kaylie Kaufman, Mackenzie Kasarda, Wheeler, and Jacey Meyer drove in one run each.
• Ella Schouten got the win in the circle for Columbia, tossing a complete-game allowing just one earned run on four hits and striking out 12. Schouten is now 3-0 on the season.

 
Game 2: (6) Columbia 10, Mid-America Christian 6
The Scoring:

• T1 (MACU) – The Evangels scored the first run of the game on a single (CC 0, MACU 1)
• B1 (CC) – The Cougars responded and tied the game as Taylor Barnes scored on a bunt single from Mackenzie Kasarda. (CC 1, MACU 1)
• B2 (CC) – Columbia took the lead as Karolina Arbova hit a solo home run to left center (CC 2, MACU 1)
• T3 (MACU) – Mid-America Nazarene scored four runs in the third. (CC 2, MACU 5)
• B3 (CC) – The Cougars tied the game in the third inning, as Jodi Polly doubled home Kasarda and Emily King hit a two-run home run to left (CC 5, MACU 5)
• B4 (CC) – Karolina Arbova drilled a solo shot to left center (CC 6, MACU 5)
• B5 (CC) – Jayce Meyer hit an RBI double and scored on a two-run home run by Avgustina Arbova (CC 9, MACU 5)
• T6 (MACU) – An RBI ground out scored a run for MACU (CC 9, MACU 6)
• B6 (CC) – Athena Wheeler singled to left field scoring Barnes (10, MACU 6)

 
Individual Leaders:

• Columbia hit four home runs in the game: Emily King, Avgustina Arbova, and Karolina Arbova (2).
• Athena Wheeler, Jodi Polly, Mackenzie Kasarda, and Karolina Arbova had two hits each.
• Seven different players had at least one RBI.
• Madison Ramsey picked up her first win of the season after tossing 4.1 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits and striking out three.

 
Up Next:
The Cougars are back in action on Saturday for another doubleheader. Columbia takes on (4) Oklahoma City at 10:00 AM, followed by a matchup with McPherson at 12:15 PM.