Bakken's Grand Slam and Terrific Pitching Helps Lead Koalas to Sweep of Voorhees

COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Columbia College softball team rolled to a weekday doubleheader sweep of NAIA foe Voorhees University on Wednesday afternoon winning 7-1 and 8-0 to extend their winning streak to five straight games.

Junior outfielder Takeirra Bakken's inside-the-park grand slam helped CC to the win with a five-run 5th inning while freshman starting pitcher Nealy Lockner tossed 5 and 1/3 innings allowing one hit and one run with two walks and four strikeouts. Senior reliever Ally Boyd then came on to close out the game striking out two over 1 and 2/3 innings.

Leading with two hits apiece were infielders Ashlynn Wolff and sophomore 3B Elaina Seymour along with sophomore catcher Reagan Kelly as they combined for six hits 4 runs scored. Columbia led just 2-1 after four innings of play before the big 5th inning. In the pivotal 5th inning, the Koalas sent all nine ladies to the plate with Wolff reaching via error to lead things off and stealing second base. Junior 2B Joni Littlejohn then singled and stole second before junior DH Karmen Christie walked to load the bases with no outs. Bakken then stepped up and roped a line drive hit past a diving VU right fielder to drive in three runs along with herself easily on the inside-the-park home run.

Kelly then doubled and stole third before senior outfielder Brooke Farrell drove her in with an RBI single.

In game two, the Koalas were led by a 10-hit performance from their offense including the top three in the lineup going a combined 7 for 8 during the game with 6 runs scored and 4 RBIs. Littlejohn led the team with 3 hits including a double and a triple as she fell just a homer shy of the cycle while Wolff also roped a double and stole a base.

In the circle, CC saw junior pitcher Maddie Vaughn pitch all five innings allowing just one hit and no runs with a walk and 8 strikeouts. to get the win.

DH Ally Boyd also smacked her first home run of the season in the 4th inning to give CC a 5-0 lead. Seymour then recorded a bunt RBI single and a sacrifice fly RBI while Littlejohn had an RBI triple in the 3rd and an RBI double in the 5th as well. Freshman outfielder Macie McCracken also crushed a two-run double down the left-field line in the 5th to clinch the win and put the game out of reach.

Columbia improves to 7-3 on the season while Voorhees drops to 0-8. The Ladies are next in action on Saturday, Feb. 28 when they head to Tennessee for a weekend road trip against AAC foes Bryan College and TN Wesleyan Univ.