AIKEN, S.C. – Top-seeded and 12th-ranked Columbus State University scored a trio of two-out runs in the fourth inning to claim a 6-2 victory over sixth-seeded Francis Marion University, Friday afternoon (April 21) in a winner's bracket game at Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament.
Francis Marion (27-15) will face fifth-seeded USC Upstate in a losers' bracket contest, Saturday at 1 p.m. CSU (36-12) advances to Saturday's semifinal game at 5 p.m.
Columbus State took a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the second inning. Randi Rainwater delivered a run-scoring single and later scored on a wild pitch, with the Cougars also plating one run on a Patriot fielding error.
Sophomore shortstop Allie Aleman accounted form the two Patriot runs with a two-run homer to left field in the top of the fourth, trimming the margin to 3-2. However, CSU struck for three runs, all with two outs, in the last of the fourth frame. Carrie Mills stroked an RBI-single and Jenny Baaske drove home two runs with a single to left.
For the second straight game, Francis Marion was held to only four hits. Aleman was 2-for-3, while Tatjana Slawson and Monica Wofford were both 1-for-3.
Freshman righty Serena Lim (10-9) was tagged with the loss as she allowed all six runs in four innings of work. Junior Jessica Johnson threw two scoreless innings to finish the game. CSU's Stasha Morton improved to 21-5 with her complete-game effort.
