CLEMONT, Fla. - The No. 2 seed Columbia College softball team needed extra innings Saturday to beat No. 10 Ottawa (Kan.) 2-1 in its opening game of the NAIA World Series.
Columbia College senior Paxton Welch (Helias High School) went the full eight innings for the Cougars to get the win. She allowed one unearned run in the fourth and gave up two hits and one walk while striking out three. Welch has won her last 10 starts and improved her record to 22-4.
Junior first baseman Allyson Metz (Jefferson City High School) went 1-for-3 with a single in the second inning. Pinch-runner Samantha Myers scored in Metz's place to give Columbia College a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, Carly Spalding scored the winning run from second base on a dropped fly ball.
Columbia College (47-5), riding an 18-game win streak, will face No. 6 Corban (Ore.) at 6:30 p.m. Monday.