Lockner's Shutout Helps Koalas Split with Truett

article contributions from Malaurie Martin

CLEVELAND, Ga. - The Columbia College softball team lost game one 4-2 on the road at conference foe Truett McConnell University (Ga.) on Saturday afternoon in north Georgia. But the Koalas came back to win game two 3-0 on a shutout from Nealy Lockner.

In game one, Truett got out to a 3-0 lead after four innings against Koala senior pitcher Ally Boyd scoring one in the first and two in the fourth on a sacrifice fly and passed ball. The Koalas then came back to score two runs in the 5th inning to trim the Bear lead down to one at 3-2. Senior center fielder Lana Hampson scored on a passed ball for the first Koala run before sophomore 3B Elaina Seymour's RBI single drove in junior SS Ashlynn Wolff.

TMU added one more insurance run in the 6th on an RBI single to get the win. Boyd threw six innings allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and one walk while Wolff was able to reach base three times on the day. She walked twice and singled while stealing a base to lead CC. Seymour, Hampson and junior outfielder Takeirra Bakken also recorded hits for the Koalas.

The teams began game two with freshman Nealy Lockner pitching for the Koalas as she went on to throw a complete game one-hit shutout.

Columbia won 3-0 in game two on a Karmen Christie RBI single that scored Brooke Farrell in the 5th before Seymour drove in two more runs on a two-base error by TMU. Scoring runs were Wolff and Hampson. Locker got the win allowing just one hit in 7 scoreless innings.

A big fifth inning helped the Lady Koalas take game two over the undefeated conference leaders. Junior outfielder Brooke Farrell singled to left field to help get the big inning started. Sophomore first baseman Madison Cheek then singled down the line to advance Farrell to second base. Then An error by the TMU second baseman on a hard-hit ball by Wolff loaded the bases and gave all momentum straight to the Lady Koalas. Coach Leighann Newberry decided to pinch hit junior Karmen Christie. Christie then did what she has been doing a lot this season, hitting hard liners to drive in runners. Another error by the second baseman on a ball hit by Seymour scored two runners for the Koalas, while the momentum was fully in their hands.

Lockner pitched a phenomenal game as the freshman gave up only one hit in her shutout. She managed to remain calm in such an intense moment going into the sixth inning when it became apparent to the team what they had in front of them. Coach Newberry had made a comment before the games and said how "TMU has everything to lose. We are here to shake things up, so let's go out and play loose and see what happens."

That is exactly what the Lady Koalas did. This game was what the team needed, after a slow start in conference play. The ladies next play another AAC power in Brenau on Sunday, another big series for them. These games put more belief back into the team and helped them see their true potential.

Columbia goes to 16-12 overall and 4-8 in the conference while TMU was handed their first AAC loss dropping to 7-1 and 18-7 overall.

The Koalas will next head down the road to take on Brenau University in Georgia on Sunday in a 1PM doubleheader.

Ally Boyd pictured below: