OTTAWA, Kan. – The Ottawa University softball team split with no. 16 Columbia College on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Cougars took game one, 4-1, but the Braves rebounded to take game two in six innings, 10-1.

Game One
Columbia broke the 0-0 tie in the top of the third, taking a 1-0 lead over the Braves. The Cougars scored one more run in the top of the fifth to take a 2-0 lead.

Ottawa cut into the Columbia lead in the bottom of the sixth. Madison Bunfill connected on her second home run of the season and OU was within 2-1.

Columbia pushed two more runs across home plate in the top of the seventh to increase its lead to 4-1. Ottawa was not able to rally in the bottom of the seventh and CC took the 4-1 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• Emma Melvin, Madison Bunfill, Allison Kearney, and Riley Newbold had one hit apiece.
• Bunfill led the Braves with an RBI
• Ashlynn Mercer pitched seven innings, striking out nine in the loss.

Game Two
Ottawa struck first, taking the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Rylie Newbold and Katie Enneking led of Ottawa's bottom half of the inning with singles. Allison Kearney doubled to left, scoring both Newbold and Enneking to give the Braves a 2-0 lead. OU would get two ore runs on Emma Melvin's first career collegiate home run and Ottawa had a 4-0 lead.

Columbia cut into OU's lead with a run in the top of the second, 4-1. The Braves earned that run back plus two more in the bottom of the second. Macey Morris led OU off with a single to left and then moved to second on an error by the Cougar left fielder.

A couple of pitches later, Morris was 60 feet from home thanks to a wild pitch. Newbold scored Morris was a sacrifice fly to left giving the Braves a 5-1 lead. Enneking singled to center and Kearney walked, giving OU runners on first and second. Both runners moved up 60 feet on a passed ball. Madison Bunfill's double to left scored Enneking and Kearney and the Braves had a 7-1 lead.

That is where the score stayed until the bottom of the sixth inning. With two outs, Enneking doubled to center. Kearney's RBI single to left gave OU an 8-1 lead and brought Bunfill to the plate. She ended the game with a home run to left and OU took the 10-1 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• The Braves finished with 12 hits. Katie Enneking, Allison Kearney, and Madison Bunfill had three apiece.
• Bunfill led the Braves with four RBI and Kearney had three.
• Kelcie Kippes pitched six innings, striking out five.

Who is Next
Ottawa (8-2) will host William Woods University on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Alumni Park. Game one of the double header is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.