GREENWOOD----The No. 2-ranked Columbus State University softball team swept Lander 9-0 and 18-1 Saturday afternoon in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at Doug Spears Field. (Game 1 Box | Game 2 Box)
Columbus State improves to 38-2 overall and 14-2 in the PBC, while Lander drops to 11-31, 4-12.
In the first game, Amber Browning improved to 18-0 as she struck out five, walked one and allowed two hits in five innings pitched. Lander Ashlea Burdette (4-12) took the loss as she walked five and allowed two earned runs on eight hits in five innings. Lander committed five errors.
Columbus State grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the second inning. Cassie Cooper singled to center field, stole second and scored on Amber Lanier's RBI single to second base. Lanier then scored from first on Carrie Mills' RBI double.
Columbus State scored three unearned runs in the fourth inning to extend its lead to 5-0. Lanier reached on a fielding error in right field, advanced to second then scored on a throwing error by the shortstop. Danielle Aszman singled, advanced to second on Brittany Leverett's walk, then to third on Allison Paul's walk. With bases loaded and two outs, a fielding error by the second baseman allowed Leverett and Aszman to score.
CSU won the game due to the eight-run in the fifth. Cooper reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, advanced to second on Lanier's walk, and to third on Mills' sacrifice bunt. Cooper scored on a fielder's choice, then Lanier crossed the plate on a shortstop throwing error. Leverett walked to load the bases. Brown made it 8-0 on Paul's sacrifice fly then Aszman scored on Bell's single to centerfield.
In the second game, which was also called in the fifth due to the eight-run rule, CSU's Rachael Darr (16-2) recorded the win, striking out two and allowing just two hits in three complete innings. Lander's Austin Murray (4-15) took the loss as she allowed eight earned runs on six hits in two innings of work.
The Cougars, who had 14 hits, took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when the first three batters walked and Ginny Walsh's sacrifice fly plated Brown.
CSU scored eight runs in the second inning to take a 9-0 lead. Lanier singled to left field, advanced to second on a ground out, then scored on Brown's RBI double. Aszman and Leverett walked to load the bases. Walsh walked to score Brown, then Bell stroked a three-run double to left center field. Lanier's two-run double scored Cooper and Bell then Lanier scored on an error by the second baseman.
CSU added five more runs in the third inning, highlighted by Tamela Bell's 3-run homer to make it 13-0.
Lander lone run came in the fourth when Burdette's solo homer to left center made it 14-1.
Walsh's grand slam in the fifth inning made it 18-1.
For CSU, Bell went 3-for-5 with six RBI, Lanier 2-for-4 with two RBI, Walsh 2-for-3 with six RBI and Brown 2-for-2 with one RBI.
