Walnut Ridge, Ark. - Columbia College faced a tough outing on the road in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, falling in both games of Thursday's doubleheader against Williams Baptist University.
Columbia moves to 25-11 overall and 16-4 in conference play, and will look to bounce back in its next outing as the postseason approaches.
Game 1: Williams Baptist 2, Columbia 1 (8 innings)
In the opener, Columbia took a narrow 1-0 lead in the fifth inning thanks to a clutch RBI single by Cassidy Avery, driving in the lone run for the Cougars. Megan Graver pitched a strong game, going the distance with 7.2 innings of work, allowing just five hits and striking out seven. However, Williams Baptist rallied late, tying the game in regulation and walking it off in the bottom of the eighth after capitalizing on a pair of doubles. Despite solid defensive efforts and a few standout plays, Columbia couldn't push across the go-ahead run in extra innings.
Game 2: Williams Baptist 2, Columbia 0
The bats went cold for the Cougars in Game 2, as they were shut out on four hits. Kennedy Jensen started in the circle and allowed two earned runs over four innings, while Jazlin Gottman came in to throw two solid scoreless innings in relief. Madysen Lucas delivered Columbia's only extra-base hit with a pinch-hit double, but Columbia was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Defensively, the team was clean with no errors, but the offense couldn't generate enough to overcome Williams Baptist's early scoring.
Columbia will be back in action tomorrow, Friday, April 18, as they wrap up their road trip with another key AMC doubleheader. The Cougars will take on Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould, Arkansas, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The matchup presents another important test as the Cougars look to bounce back and solidify their position in the conference standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Columbia Statistical Leaders – Game 1
Columbia Statistical Leaders – Game 2
