COLUMBUS, Ga. – Columbus State sophomore Keeli Waugh belted two three-run home runs in each game to lift the Cougars to a double-header sweep of West Alabama in non-conference softball action on Wednesday. CSU took game one 6-0, before winning game two 6-1.
Columbus State snaps a four game losing skid to improve to 20-17 overall. West Alabama falls to 13-22.
"Three swings accounted for eight of their twelve runs today," said UWA head coach
Will Atkinson. "They didn't pound the ball; we just didn't take care of it. We were out-hitting them for the longest time, but they managed to score two runs on a ball that didn't leave the infield."
Katie White put Columbus State on the board by scoring a run off of a Tiger error in the bottom of the first inning.
Keeli Waugh recorded her first three run shot in the fourth inning that extended the Cougar lead to 4-0. Rachel Rhodes followed with a two run homer to left field in the sixth to put CSU up 6-0.
Peyton Sorrells (9-5) allowed four hits and struck out four batters to record the win.
Ashley Stassin (4-3) took the loss, allowing six runs and nine hits through five innings.
Libby Davis,
Audrey Diekmann,
Kristen Bittle and
Brittany Anderson each accounted for the four Tiger hits.
Much like in game one, White put Columbus State on the board first in the bottom of the first inning scoring from third base on a Rodriguez to Diekmann UWA putout. Kia Smith laid down a bunt through a gap in the UWA defense on the right side that allowed two runs to score for CSU in the third inning.
Waugh added her second three run homer in the sixth inning to extend the Cougar lead to 6-0.
Libby Davis put the Tigers on the board for the first time on the day in the top of the seventh with a solo home run over left field. The shot, which came as her only hit in game two, gave her six homers on the season and ties her with Diekmann as the team leader.
Jenna Goldsmith led the Tigers in game two with two hits in three appearances.
Hanna Manley (7-6) pitched through the first five innings, striking out two and allowing four hits to get the win. Darby Demarest entered in the sixth to tally her first save of the season, giving up one run on two hits. She struck out four of nine batters faced.
Andrea Edmonds (6-6) took the loss, allowing five earned runs on six hits and struck out three.
"We have a couple of days right now where we need to get healthy," Atkinson said. "If we can do that, I think it will go a long way for us. We have a tree-game series against Lee this weekend. If we get better pitches to hit and our hitters show up, we'll have a chance. We just have to take better care of the softball and string some hits together."
West Alabama Softball will return to Gulf South Conference action on Saturday in a double-header against Lee University. Game one is set for 1 p.m. (C.S.T.) in Cleveland, Tenn.
