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Lander University

HOME OF THE LANDER UNIVERSITY BEARCATS #CLAWSUP
12
Winner Lander LANDER 31-16, 15-9 PBC
4
Columbus St. COLUMBUS 31-19, 18-6 PBC
Winner
Lander LANDER
31-16, 15-9 PBC
12
Final
4
Columbus St. COLUMBUS
31-19, 18-6 PBC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E
Lander LANDER 6 0 0 3 3 0 12 11 2
Columbus St. COLUMBUS 0 1 2 1 0 0 4 4 1

W: Geddings, Mattye (17-3) L: Khloe Shears (16-8)

Devon Kokoszka SB 2026
Vickie Breedlove

Game Recap: Softball | | Hailey Franklin - Assistant Sports Information Director

Lander Routs Columbus State in Run-Rule Win to Open Key PBC Series

COLUMBUS, Ga. - In a matchup between two of the Southeast Region's top teams, Lander University, ranked No. 4 in the latest regional poll, opened its final regular-season series emphatically Saturday, powering past fifth-ranked (regionally) Columbus State with a 12-4 run-rule victory.

The win carries major implications in the Peach Belt Conference race, where the University of North Georgia leads the standings, followed by Columbus State and Lander entering the weekend.

Lander (32-16, 16-9 PBC) wasted no time setting the tone, exploding for six runs in the top of the first inning and immediately seizing control. The Bearcats strung together clutch at-bats throughout the frame, highlighted by RBI efforts from Isabella Santos, Ava Perkins, Devon Kokoszka, and Emily Allen to put Columbus State (31-20, 18-7 PBC) in an early hole.

Kokoszka powered the offense with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs. She delivered key blows in both the fourth and fifth innings, including a two-run double that helped push the game into run-rule territory. Perkins drove in three runs, while Santos and Allen each recorded two hits as Lander totaled 11 on the night.

Columbus State's offense was limited to just four hits, though Izzy Ripatti provided a spark with two solo home runs, accounting for all of the Cougars' RBIs. A pair of unearned runs in the third inning briefly cut into the deficit, but Lander quickly responded to maintain control.

In the circle, Mattye Geddings (17-3) turned in a composed outing, allowing four runs, only two earned, across five innings while scattering four hits. She kept Columbus State from building momentum and benefited from strong run support throughout.

The Bearcats added to their lead with three runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth, stretching the margin to eight runs and ending the game early via the run rule.

With the emphatic victory, Lander not only opens the series with momentum but also strengthens its positioning in both the conference race and Southeast Region picture heading into the postseason.

The series concludes Sunday as Lander looks to carry its offensive surge into a doubleheader against Columbus State beginning at noon in Columbus.
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Scoring Summary

Score By Innings
Play LANDER COLUMBUS
LANDER TOP 1st Isabella Santos reached on a fielder's choice, RBI (1-0 B); Emorie Anderson advanced to third; Emily Allen scored. 1 0
LANDER TOP 1st Ava Perkins singled to right center, 2 RBI (3-2 KBSFBFB); Bella Angeli advanced to third; Isabella Santos scored; Emorie Anderson scored. 3 0
LANDER TOP 1st Devon Kokoszka singled to left field, RBI (2-2 BBFF); Ava Perkins advanced to second; Bella Angeli scored. 4 0
LANDER TOP 1st Emily Allen singled to right field, RBI (0-1 K); Kara Vonachen advanced to second; Devon Kokoszka advanced to third; Ava Perkins scored. 5 0
LANDER TOP 1st Emorie Anderson hit by pitch, RBI (1-0 H); Emily Allen advanced to second; Kara Vonachen advanced to third; Devon Kokoszka scored. 6 0
COLUMBUS BOT 2nd Izzy Ripatti homered to left field, RBI (2-0 BB). 6 1
COLUMBUS BOT 3rd Anna Waites reached first on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to second on the error (1-2 BFF); Ansley Collins scored, unearned; Gracyn Gurley scored, unearned. 6 3
LANDER TOP 4th Devon Kokoszka singled to left center, 2 RBI (0-0); Samantha Bumgarner advanced to second; Bella Angeli scored; Isabella Santos scored. 8 3
LANDER TOP 4th Kara Vonachen doubled to left center, RBI (1-0 B); Devon Kokoszka advanced to third; Samantha Bumgarner scored. 9 3
COLUMBUS BOT 4th Izzy Ripatti homered to left field, RBI (1-0 B). 9 4
LANDER TOP 5th Ava Perkins walked, RBI (3-1 BBKBB); Bella Angeli advanced to second; Reagan Hill advanced to third; Emorie Anderson scored. 10 4
LANDER TOP 5th Devon Kokoszka doubled to left field, 2 RBI (0-0); Ava Perkins advanced to third; Bella Angeli scored; Reagan Hill scored. 12 4

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