DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The eighth seeded King University softball team had their season come to an end on Friday in the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional against fourth seed Columbus State. The Tornado scored two runs early, the King offense was shutdown by Cougar relief pitcher Jessica Lopez as the Cougars plated two runs in the fifth inning to take the contest 3-2.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: No. 4 Columbus State 3, No. 8 King 2
LOCATION: Lynn Cottrell Park; Dahlonega, Ga.
RECORDS: King 36-24; Columbus State 46-15
TIME OF GAME: 1:45
KING HIGHLIGHTS
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Savana Luper retired the Cougars in order in the first before Campbell started the bottom of the inning with a double.
- However, she was left on third as the game went to the second scoreless.
- King then loaded the bases in the second inning before Campbell drove in one with an infield single and Haylee Dye made it a 2-0 lead when she was hit by a pitch.
- Columbus State got out of the inning, however, keeping their deficit at 2-0 and leaving the bases loaded.
- The Cougars cut their deficit in half, taking advantage of a wild pitch on a strikeout that would have ended the inning.
- Columbus State took a 3-2 lead on a single that plated one in the fifth as the throw was wide to home, allowing another run to score.
- That was too much for the Tornado offense to overcome against relief pitcher Jessica Lopez as she retired all 15 batters she faced, handing King the 3-2 defeat.
FOR THE FOES
- Caitlyn Canady posted two hits while Madeline Parker drove in one for the Cougars.
OF RECORD
Winning Pitcher: Jessica Lopez (13-2) 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 SO
Losing Pitcher: Savana Luper (13-7) 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO
