After four and a half innings of scoreless softball, the Columbus High offense came to life.
It scored five runs in the fifth inning and got another superb effort from starting pitcher Mary Catherine Smith to top Lumpkin County 5-0 and stay alive in the state tournament at South Commons softball complex.
With the win, Columbus advances in the losers bracket and will face Madison County at 3 p.m. today on Field No. 4. That game will also be an elimination game.
Sydney Sprague led off the inning with a single, moved to third on an error and scored the team’s first run on an RBI fielder’s choice by Kayla Brena. The Lady Blue Devils broke the inning open with a bunt single by Nicole Humphries and back-to-back errors on grounds hit by Alexis Jones and Hillary Waters. Three runs came across the plate on the two errors.
Lexie Stohr drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
It was all that Smith would need. She pitched a complete game, struck out nine and allowed just six hits.
Friday at South Commons Lumpkin County 000 000 0—0 6 3 Columbus 000 050 X—5 4 0 WP—Smith. LP—Brown. Leading hitters—Lumpkin County, Allyson Gentry 1-3, 2B, Ashley Brown 1-2, 2B; Columbus, Sydney Sprague 1-3, R, Alexis Jones 2-3, R. Records—Lumpkin County 22-14; Columbus 31-5-1.
