BRANSON, Mo. – Ella Schouten turned in a dominant complete-game performance and Abigail Zismer went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate as the No. 3-seeded Columbia College softball team rolled past No. 6-seed University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis, 6-2, in the opening round of the AMC Tournament Tuesday afternoon at the Branson RecPlex. With the win, Columbia improves to 24-13 overall.
Schouten was in command from the first pitch, working all seven innings and allowing just two unearned runs on eight hits. She struck out five, walked no one and needed only 93 pitches to close out the Eutectics — a workmanlike effort that gave the Cougar offense all the breathing room it needed.
Columbia jumped out early, scoring two in the bottom of the first. Zismer led off with a single and Taryn Hagardt drew a walk, and a Wriley Taylor sacrifice fly capped the frame and gave the Cougars an early 2-0 edge. UHSP answered with a pair of runs in the second to even the score, but Columbia regained control for good with a three-run fifth that put the game out of reach. Hagardt drew a walk to ignite the rally, and after the bases were loaded, Cassidy Avery's fielder's choice brought Hagardt across. Kennedy Schanuth then delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon, lacing a two-run double to right field to make it 5-2. Zismer added one more in the sixth, singling home Kylee Page — who had walked and stolen second — to set the final margin.
Zismer was outstanding all afternoon, reaching safely in every plate appearance and finishing 4-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. Hagardt was equally disruptive at the top of the order, reaching four times on a hit and two walks while crossing the plate twice. Schanuth's clutch double proved to be the decisive blow.
Columbia advances to face No. 2-seed Cottey College on Wednesday at noon in Branson.
Statistical Leaders: CC def. UHSP, 6-2
