Perry puts Columbus softball out of state playoffs

The Columbus softball team seemed to be riding high after its performance in the region tournament. That all changed once the Perry Lady Panthers came to town.

The Lady Blue Devils couldn't keep up the strong play against the Lady Panthers, losing both of Wednesday's games 11-2. The losses eliminated Columbus in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament.

The first of the day's games got out of hand quickly for Columbus. The Lady Blue Devils' first run — scored on a Perry fielding error — was sandwiched between five runs for the Lady Panthers.

Alyssa Barker's RBI double to center field in the fourth gave Columbus some sense of life, but it was ultimately the the team's last run in the loss.

Columbus could have stayed alive with a victory to close out the doubleheader. Instead, it was much of the same in Game 2.

Perry got going again in the second inning, putting up three runs to take control. Columbus manufactured more offense this time around but could not bring people across the plate, as it left five runners on the bases in the first four innings.

Alexis Day delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning, and Barker hit an RBI single in the fifth. Barker's hit, however, proved to be the last hurrah for the Columbus hitters.

Columbus ends the season with a 14-16 record.

This story was originally published October 11, 2017 at 8:19 PM with the headline "Perry puts Columbus softball out of state playoffs."