Koala Softball Uses Bats to Sweep Benedict

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College Softball team picked up their first wins of the season on Monday as they traveled across town to score a combined 25 runs in defeating Div. II Benedict College 11-7 and 14-8.

In game one, freshman 1B Ashlyn Blackstone led the Koalas with 3 hits and 3 RBIs while junior outfielder Takeirra Bakken and sophomore catcher Reagan Kelly each drove in two runs apiece, including Kelly's two-run double in the 4th inning. Senior CF Lana Hampson also added two hits in the game while fellow senior outfielder Brooke Farrell recorded an RBI single as well. Infielders Ashlynn Wolff and sophomore 3B Elaina Seymour drove in runs also.

CC took a 3-2 lead after two innings before increasing their advantage to five at 7-2 midway through the fourth inning. Benedict then got to within one at 8-7 after six innings before Columbia added three insurance runs in the 7th for the win as Farrell, Bakken, and Seymour drove in runs on a bunt single, an RBI walk, and a hit by pitch respectively.

Pitching wise, junior reliever Maddie Vaughn picked up the win in relief of starter Ally Boyd throwing four innings allowing four earned runs on four hits with 4 walks and five strikeouts. Senior reliever Amanda Lohrey closed out the win with 1 and 2/3 scoreless innings striking out one. 

During game two, the Koalas put up 14 runs over just 4 innings of play before the game was called due to darkness in the bottom of the 4th. Junior Shortstop Ashlynn Wolff then had a stellar game two driving in five runs with a 3-run double in the 2nd and a two-run homer to left in the 3rd, her first career home run, as CC scored 8 runs in the inning to put the game out of reach with a 14-3 lead.

BC got out to a 3-1 lead after the opening inning before CC scored five runs on four hits in the 2nd inning to take a 6-3 lead and then posted the big 8-run inning in the third. Junior DH Karmen Christie led the team with 3 hits on a double, two singles, and two runs scored while freshman CF Krislyn Wilder knocked two hits and scored two runs in her season debut, as she also plays on the basketball team.

Bakken and Blackstone each recorded two hits apiece as well while senior catcher Jenna Holder hit a two-run double to open up the scoring in the third. She was followed by Wilder's RBI double, Wolff's home run, Bakken's RBI double and Blackstone's RBI single. Wolff and Seymour also each stole a base as well.

Freshman starting pitcher Nealy Lockner threw two plus innings allowing six runs (5 earned) on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts while Lohrey tossed another scoreless inning with a strikeout.

Columbia improves to 2-2 on the season while BC fell to 0-4. The Koalas will next host the Cola Classic on Friday and Saturday of this weekend with four games being played. CC will play two on Friday evening beginning at approximately 4:30 pm against KY Christian and Point University along with two more on Saturday starting at either 10 am or 12:30 pm with the final game hosting Alice Lloyd college at 5:30 pm.