CLIPPERS CRANK UP THE HEAT

COLUMBIANA OH- Columbiana got the bats rolling and never looked back Monday, cruising past Southern 12-2 behind a monster game from Maryn Hepler.

Hepler was a tough out all night, going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a single to spark the Clippers’ offense.

Southern struck first with a groundout RBI in the top of the first, but Columbiana answered right away, tying it up on an RBI double from Ella Dota. Southern briefly grabbed the lead again in the third with a solo shot to center, but that just lit a fire under the Clippers.

Columbiana blew the game wide open in the bottom of the third, hanging a nine-spot on Southern. Alivia Bell kicked it off with a two-run single, Anna Yonker doubled in another, Kyla Hogan hammered a two-run double, and Hepler, Dota, Caitlynn Pleska, and Addison Brode all came through with RBI hits to cap the inning.

Brode took care of business in the circle, tossing five strong innings, giving up just five hits and two runs while striking out eight. Pleska came on in relief and slammed the door, striking out three in a clean sixth.

The Clippers racked up 16 hits on the day, with Hogan, Dota, Bell, Pleska, and Brode all collecting multi-hit games. Landry Smith stayed patient at the plate, drawing two walks and stealing a pair of bases to keep the pressure on.

Southern managed just five hits, with their leadoff hitter picking up two of them. They stayed clean defensively, even turning a double play, but couldn’t slow down Columbiana’s big inning. The two teams will meet again Wednesday, this time at Southern.