FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 3-29-07

College Softball: No. 2 Columbus State 7-6, AASU 0-5

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The No. 2-ranked Columbus State softball squad fought off a late comeback from host Armstrong Atlantic State, making an early 6-0 lead hold up with a 6-5 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Pirates in Peach Belt Conference action at the AASU Softball Field on Thursday. Columbus State took game one of the doubleheader, 7-0, behind Amber Browning’s three-hit shutout.

Columbus State (36-2, 12-2 PBC) built a 6-0 lead by the third inning in game two thanks to three home runs.  Brittany Leverett hit a solo shot in the top of the first, then Allison Paul delivered a grand slam home run in the third that chased Pirate starter Courtney Tucker (6-1). Tamela Bell followed with a solo shot and the Cougars looked to be well on the way to the sweep.

 The Pirates (22-9, 8-4 PBC) began their comeback in the bottom of the third on Amanda Vickers’ RBI double, plating Tori Richter with the first run of the game. Natalie Vogler’s double down the left field line plated two more runs in the fifth, then Vickers struck again in the sixth, this time with a two-run double to bring AASU to within one, 6-5. Browning, however, pitched a perfect ninth to save the win for Cougar starter Rachael Darr (15-2), who went 5 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and four runs. Tucker took the loss for AASU, giving up two hits and five runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Game one was all Browning, who did not give up a hit until the fifth in the three-hit shutout, striking out nine to improve to 17-0 on the season. Columbus State used a four-run third inning to take charge of the contest with RBI singles from Paul, Christie Thompson and Cassie Cooper. Thompson and Amber Lanier added solo home runs in the win for Columbus State, while Jessica Waters (10-4) took the loss for AASU, giving up 10 hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Paul finished the doubleheader with two hits and six RBI to lead the Cougars at the plate, while Erin Brown had three hits in game one. AASU was led by Vickers, who finished the day 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI, and Tori Richter, who had two hits and scored three runs in game two.

AASU will next travel to Spartanburg, S.C., for a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader with the No. 18-ranked Spartans on Saturday, March 31.

- Pirates -