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Columbia pitcher McKenna O'Sullivan winds up to pitch against P.K. Yonge on Tuesday. (BRENT KUYKENDALL/Lake City Reporter)
A slow start and a rough finish doomed Columbia in a 7-1 loss to West Port on the road Thursday night in its regular-season finale.
The Wolf Pack (15-9) scored three runs in the first inning, another in the second and capped off the win with three more in the fifth after the Tigers (15-6) finally scored in the top half of the inning. Madelyn Jones allowed the first fours runs‚ three earned — on two hits and two walks without recording an out in the second inning before CHS turned to McKenna O’Sullivan, who allowed three runs — one earned — on five hits and a pair of walks in five innings of work.
Analiz Santiago (1 for 3) and Baylee Paparo (2 for 3) each had two RBIs in the win for West Port and Tori Ferrer had another. That was plenty of run support for pitcher Ryleigh Bauer, who allowed zero earned runs on five hits and a walk with two punch outs in a complete-game performance.
The Tigers will now turn their attention to next week’s District 2-5A tournament at Middleburg, where they’ll have a bye to the semifinals as the No. 2 seed .Columbia will face the winner of No. 3 seed Middleburg-No. 6 seed Gainesville on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
CHS-SANDALWOOD BASEBALL RAINED OUT
Columbia’s regular-season finale against Sandalwood was called off due to rain Thursday night. Next up for the Tigers (19-5) is the District 2-5A tournament, where they’ll host No. 4 Rickards in the semifinals on Tuesday at 7 p.m. as the No. 1 seed.