Columbus State scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh in Game 1, getting the game-winner on pinch-hitter Melanie Trevathan’s bases-loaded walk, then came from behind again in Game 2 on the strength of two Brittany Leverett homeruns to sweep Flagler 5-4 and 7-5 at home Saturday.
The wins were the first in Peach Belt Conference play this season for the Cougars and ran their overall record to 13-18-1 and 2-6 in league play. Flagler fell to 18-16 overall and 4-4 in the PBC.
Jennifer Isasi picked up the Game 1 win in relief, going one inning and allowing one hit. Kristi Bullard started and allowed four runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. She walked three and fanned six. Carrie Jones was the only CSU player with two hits in the game.
In Game 2, Britni McCall earned the win in relief of Kelsey Gilliam, who allowed three runs with two outs in the first inning. McCall gave up two runs on two hits and four walks with three strikeouts n 6 1/3 innings of work.
CSU tied the game in the second inning as Leverett cranked a two-run shot to left immediately after Branigan Wix executed a squeeze bunt to get the Cougars on the board.
Trailing 4-3 in the fourth, Leverett launched a grand slam for her 11th homer of the year and a 7-4 lead.
Keeley Kennedy led the 11-hit CSU attack with three hits, while Christie Thompson and Leverett added two hits each.
CSU’s next game is Monday at Lander. The Cougars return home for a 5 p.m. Wednesday game against Georgia Southwestern.
COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD
CSU men, women fourth at Emory
ATLANTA — The Columbus State men’s and women’s track teams finished fourth out of 11 and 12 teams, respectively, Saturday at the Emory Invitational as they continue their first season of competition.
Shan Crawford led the CSU women by being the high scorer in the event. She won the 100 meters (12.07 seconds, which gave her a provisional qualifying time for the national meet), 200 meters (24.87), long jump (5.3 meters), triple jump (10.85) and ran the lead leg of the winning 4x100 relay team (49.29 seconds). Other members of the relay team were Raquisha Givens, Ibukun Awoyale and LaQuita Daniels.
Naomi Tanui took second in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:07, while Whitney Ryals took second in the javelin with a throw of 35.10 meters.
Jonathan Jones led the CSU men. He won the triple jump (13.98 meters), finished second in the long jump (6.44), secnd in the high jump (1.93) and ran the first leg for the third-placed place 4x100 relay team (43.49 seconds). Also on that relay team were Gerald Chichester, Blair Patterson and Jeremy Williams.
Williams won the 100 meters (11.15) and took second in the 200 (22.29). Nicholas Kering delivered a pair of first-place finishes for CSU, winning the 10,000 (31:43.13) and the 5,000 (15:01.7). Meshack Koyiaki won the 800 (1:54.58) and was second in the 1,500 (3:58.90).
The CSU teams return to Atlanta next Friday and Saturday (March 26-27) for the Emory Classic. The Cougars will host a tri-meet with Clayton State and Tuskegee on March 30 at the Evilsizer Track Complex in Smiths Station.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
CVCC tryouts today, March 27
The Chattahochee Valley Community College women’s basketball team will conduct tryouts today and March 27 from 2-4 p.m. at Key Hall on the CVCC campus.
The tryouts are open to all high school senior girls. National signing day for junior colleges is April 8.
For more information, call CVCC coach Dusty Perdue at 706-681-6811.
TENNIS
Roddick advances to final, Nadal gets ousted
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Andy Roddick outlasted Robin Soderling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Saturday to make the BNP Paribas Open final for the first time.
The American will play for the title today against Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, who rode his big serve to a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal — the first time in 26 years that both men’s semifinals went three sets.
Jelena Jankovic and U.S. Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki will play for the women’s title today.
NHL
Thrashers beat Flyers for third straight win
ATLANTA — Colby Armstrong scored two goals and the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 5-2 on Saturday night to continue their late postseason push.
The Thrashers have won three straight to move back into contention for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta trails eighth-place Boston by one point.
Atlanta had not won as many as three in a row since a four-game streak from Nov. 25-30.
Armstrong had his second straight two-goal game. Nik Antropov, Niclas Bergfors and Bryan Little also scored.
— From staff and wire reports
