The #9 Golden Tigers Continue to Build Momentum

Columbia, SC - The #9 Brenau University Softball Team continued their weekend of travel, as they made their way to Columbia College. The Fighting Koalas were currently placed as 5th, in the Southern States Athletic Conference's East Division. After the Golden Tigers defeated the Lady Barons, they were able to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, securing their position as 2nd in the Division, right behind #22 Shorter University.

The Golden Tigers swept the Fighting Koalas in both games, of Saturday's series. Columbia was taken back a bit, as Brenau took a strong lead and maintained dominance throughout the entire double header. As the Golden Tigers acquired 2 more wins, in conference play, they were now 19-5 in their conference record, and 35-7 overall. Unfortunately, for the Fighting Koalas, they dropped to 11-13 in conference, and 15-29 overall.

Both, Brenau and Columbia, used the 1st inning as a chance to stretch their legs and take note of their opponents. In the 2nd inning, the Golden Tigers lit the scoreboard up, with 4 runs. Columbia seemed as though they were unable to use the home field advantage against the Golden Tigers, as they were forced to watch the score of 4-0 be displayed on their board, for the entire 3rd inning. Brenau used the 4th inning, as a time to demonstrate their batting skills once more, collecting 3 more runs. As the Golden Tigers strengthened their lead, 7-0, the Fighting Koalas were struggling with a plan to get them on base. As most fans would expect, Brenau finished the game in 5 innings, as they played big at the plate, earning 7 additional runs. At the end of the game, the board displayed a score of 14-0.

Tiffany Schandera (Columbus, GA) was in the lead off position, once again, going 1-4 with a single and 2 RBIs. Katie Bolin (Danielsville, GA) had gone 1-4 at the plate, earning a single and 1 RBI. Both Jenny Shepherd (Martinez, GA) and Kristina Reynolds (Bogart, GA) had big games; Shepherd went 1-3 at bat, with a homerun and 3 RBIs, while Reynolds went 1-2 with a homerun and 2 RBIs. Sally Duggan (Huntsville, AL) and Jana Bryant (Marietta, GA) both contributed, in their single plays. Jacqueline McWhorter (Columbus, GA) racked up a single, a double, and 1 RBI, while she was at bat, and Brooke Bryant (Royston, GA) obtained a single and 3 RBIs. Anna Maness (Seagrove, NC) managed to strike out 2 of Columbia's batters, allowing only 1 hit for the entire game. The Golden Tigers were able to pull out 14 runs from the 10 hits they made, while not recording a single error.

As the 2nd game picked up, so did the Golden Tigers enthusiasm. Brenau was confident in the fact that they would head home with a 4-0 record, in the weekend conference play. In the first inning alone, Brenau earned 2 runs, as Columbia watched with frustration. The Golden Tigers continued to add on to their lead, as they put an additional run on the board, bringing their lead 3-0. As the 3rd and 4th innings took place, neither team could manage to put a run on the board. Once the 5th inning rolled around, Brenau made solid plays, allowing them to earn 2 more runs. In the 6th, and final, inning, Columbia was still struggling because they were unable to make a presence on the field; however, Brenau seemed to have mastered that task a long time ago! In the final inning of the series, the Golden Tigers ended on a great note, by making 4 runs, bringing the score to 9-0.

Schandera played a part in building up Brenau's momentum, when she went 1-3 at bat, with a double and 2 RBIs. Bolin contributed with her double and RBI, while Bryant earned a single for the Golden Tigers. Sheperd managed to go 1-4 at the plate, earning a double, while she also struck out 11 batters. Duggan went 2-3, with 2 singles and 2 RBIs. Morgan Smith (Covington, GA) had gone 1-3, with a homerun and 2 RBIs. Both Taylor Kelly (Toccoa, GA) and Lana Lazar (Sharpsburg, GA) earned multiple singles.

Fans have the chance to watch the Golden Tigers on their home field, this Monday, April 18th. The double header against Wesleyan College is scheduled to start at 5pm.