The Lady Wildcats (2-4) have played some tough competition to begin the season and have had an up-and-down start.
It was the Kacey Stampley show March 5 at Wesson, which head coach Greg Arnold pegged as a potential playoff matchup, for Columbia in a 6-3 loss. The sophomore was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two solo homers and went the distance in the circle. Through six innings of work, she struck out seven and allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits and five walks.
At home March 7, the Lady Wildcats were trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth against Sumrall when they bounced back to knot the score 5-5 heading into the final frame. But Sumrall responded with a pair of runs in the seventh to beat Columbia 7-5.
The Lady Wildcats were held to just four singles with McKinley Newcomer, Madalynn Williamson and Jessica Baker each driving in a run. Stampley went the distance again, allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks while striking out seven.
The following night at Mendenhall, Columbia went into the seventh inning up 10-9 when it went a game-breaking rally to score 18 runs and win 28-9. The Lady Wildcats had six different players with multiple hits and at least 2 RBI to go along with six doubles.
“We had a good offensive inning,” Arnold said of the 18-run outburst. “They did have to bring in their third pitcher, and she struggled a little bit. But we waited on the pitch, got some walks and had some good base hits from the top to the bottom of the lineup and things just came together.”
Williamson had three hits and 5 RBI, Baker and Stampley each had three hits and 3 RBI, Abby King had two doubles and 4 RBI and Brianna Boyd and Leah Nolan both had two hits and 2 RBI. Stampley got the win, striking out five in four innings, while Boyd tossed three innings in relief.
At Bogue Chitto Wednesday, Columbia fell behind early and a pair of homers weren’t enough to bring the Lady Wildcats back in a 7-3 loss. Newcomer and Nolan both homered.
Arnold said Columbia has to get better all the way around.
“We have to get better defensively and be a little bit more sound. Then we just need to produce with our bats a little bit more and get some more production at the plate,” he said. “We need to get more hits in a timely manner when we have runners on base in scoring position. If we take care of those things and get better at all aspects of the game, I think we’ll be just fine.”
Columbia played host to East Marion Thursday, but results were unavailable at press time. The Lady Wildcats will host a doubleheader Saturday and take on Purvis at 11 a.m. and Mendenhall at 1.
Pictured Above: Columbia shortstop Kacey Stampley applies a tag on East Marion baserunner Azariyah Magee Thursday at the Lady Wildcats field. | Photo by Charlie Smith
