Union Softball Drops Both Games Against Columbia

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Union Commonwealth University softball team (5-15, 0-4 AAC) dropped both games of its doubleheader against Columbia (14-8, 2-4 AAC) on Thursday night at Sutton Softball Complex, falling 6-4 and 5-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: Columbia 6, Union Commonwealth 4

Union struck first in the opening inning when singles from Ashleigh McLeskey and Tori Turner each drove in a run to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, McLeskey stole home from third to extend the advantage to 3-0.

Columbia responded later in the inning with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 3-1.

The Koalas added another run in the third inning to make it 3-2. In the fourth, Columbia tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI double before taking the lead on a sacrifice fly to go ahead 4-3.

Union answered in the fifth inning when McLeskey delivered an RBI single to center field, scoring Lily Allen to tie the game at 4-4.

However, Columbia regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth as two singles each drove in a run to make it 6-4. The Bulldogs were unable to respond in the final innings.

Pitching
W: Ally Boyd (1-0): 7 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER
L: Maggie Haydu (2-7): 4.2 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 1 SO

Notable Performances

• Ashleigh McLeskey: 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI

• Lily Allen: 2-for-4, R

• Savanna Higgins: 1-for-4, R

• Kenley Vanbibber: 1-for-4, R

Game 2: Columbia 5, Union Commonwealth 1

Columbia took the early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs to go ahead 2-0.

Union was held scoreless until the fifth inning when Lily Allen hit an RBI double that scored Kenley Vanbibber to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Koalas responded in the sixth inning as a double, triple and single each produced a run to extend the lead to 5-1.

Union was unable to mount a comeback and fell 5-1.

Pitching
W: Maddie Vaughn (7-3): 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 SO
L: Kerry Dixon (0-6): 0.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R

Notable Performances

• Lily Allen: 1-for-3, RBI

• Savanna Higgins: 1-for-3

• Taylor Kelly: 1-for-3

Bulldog Notes

• Allen extended her hitting streak to eight games.

• Higgins extended her hitting streak to four games.

UP NEXT

The Bulldogs return home on Saturday, March 14, to face Reinhardt in a doubleheader at Union Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m., with game two set for 4 p.m.