BLUEFIELD, Va. -- The Bluefield softball team carried a lead into the fifth inning of game one, but fell by a 6-3 margin and visiting Columbia took a 13-2 win in the finale for the Appalachian Athletic Conference sweep.
Bluefield drops to 5-29 overall and 1-17 in conference play. The Fighting Koalas level their record at 12-12 for the season and move to 6-10 in AAC games.
Bluefield tallied a combined nine hits on the afternoon, with
Michaela Carter narrowly missing out on a home run in each game. The freshman knocked drives off the fence in both contests, settling for two doubles on the day.
Eryn Haley and
Kasey Holcomb also logged doubles in the second game.
Game 1Columbia took a 1-0 lead in the first, but Bluefield answered back with a three-run bottom half thanks to a two-out rally.
Tianna Macias kept the inning alive with a walk. A single from
Morgan Stephens and an error in the outfield allowed Macias to score, while
Laura Craven singled through the left side of the infield to plate Stephens, who advanced all the way to third on the previous error and the throw. Carter's first double of the game brought Craven around for the 3-1 BC lead.
Craven settled in in the circle, and held Columbia scoreless through the next three frames. The Lady Rams' defense backed up Craven in the third and fourth, turning a pair of double plays.
Columbia then posted a three-run fifth and a two-run sixth while reliever Micah Tew held Bluefield scoreless in her six innings of work.
Haley took the loss as Columbia gained the lead off the freshman in the fifth.
Game 2The Fighting Koalas struck early in game one, plating seven runs in the first frame. Bluefield plated single runs in both the second and third innings, but Columbia posted a pair of late three-run frames for the 13-2 win.
Victoria Pietsch and Haley tallied BC's RBIs in game two.
Brienna Sparks took the loss for Bluefield, while Erin Walker--who tossed the first inning of game one--bounced back and took the five-inning win.
Bluefield is slated to return to action on Thursday at University of Charleston. The doubleheader is slated for a 2 p.m. start.
