AUGUSTA, Ga. – Columbus State pushed a run across in the top of the seventh to salvage a Peach Belt Conference split with Augusta State Friday afternoon.
The Lady Cougars (20-10, 1-1 PBC) got a single, a sacrifice bunt, and a throwing error to bring around the winning run to snap ASU's (22-6, 5-1 PBC) 16-game winning streak.
Heather Hughes (7-2) took the loss after hurling a complete game, five-hit outing, giving up one earned run and striking out three. Kelsey Gilliam went 2 1/3 innings in relief for the win to improve to 4-3. Mollie Russell picked up a one-out save in the seventh.
The Jaguars did their damage in game one late, though, as Emily Headrick and Mollie Russell went head-to-head in a pitcher's duel through four as neither team could get on the board.
Finally, the Lady Cougars got on the board in the top half of the fifth as Morgan Knight notched a two-out single and Casey Googe sent a shot to deep left for a two-run homer.
But ASU immediately answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Renae Kimbell singled with one out. Kacee Camp followed with a walk. Kristen Jones, with two outs, was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Jessica Thornton, whose single to right tied things up at two apiece.
A wild pitch brought Jones home, and Hannah Vaughn finished the scoring with an RBI single to make it a 4-2 score.
Headrick (10-2) loaded the bases in the seventh, but induced a two-out popup to end the threat and seal the victory. She gave up seven hits and two runs, striking out five while walking three.
Russell took the loss for CSU to fall to 9-5, going the distance while giving up five hits and four runs (three earned). She struck out three and walked four.
Kristen Jones went 2-for-5 on the day, scoring twice to lead ASU offensively. Kacee Camp scored in both games, and Hannah Vaughn notched an RBI in each contest.
Augusta State is back in action Saturday, March 17 as they host Georgia College for Parent's Day beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Jaguar Field.