Columbia Rallies to Knock Off Tiger Softball

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Doane Softball struck for four runs across the fourth and fifth innings to grab the lead, but Columbia (Mo.) answered with a six-run sixth to hand the Tigers an 8-4 setback in Friday's KC NAIA Invite opener.

After three scoreless frames, Doane (3-2) broke through in the top of the fourth. Faith McDonald and Addison Parsons started the rally with two-out singles, and Evelyn Iniguez followed with an RBI single up the middle. McDonald's pinch runner, Lexi Adams, came around to score to give the Tigers a 1-0 advantage.

Doane added to the lead in the fifth with a three-run rally. Lilly Lewis drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ciara Hudson delivered a ground-rule RBI double to score Lewis, then Milannie Gonzalez singled to left-center and took extra bases on a throwing error as Hudson scored. Jaiden Papik capped the inning with an RBI groundout to push the Tigers in front 4-0.

Columbia (1-1) got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, then flipped the game in the sixth. A pair of early hits and a walk loaded the bases before a run-scoring walk and sacrifice fly made it a one-run game. The Cougars' big blow came on a two-run, ground-rule triple down the left-field line by Abigail Zismer, part of a six-run inning that put Columbia ahead for good.

Gonzalez finished 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Iniguez went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Hudson added a 1-for-3 day with an RBI double, and Parsons and McDonald each recorded hits in the middle of the lineup.

McDonald started in the circle for Doane, working five innings with five runs allowed and five strikeouts. Lauren Dick pitched the sixth.

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