Reinbott's GW walkoff hit backs Henley as UHSP splits with Columbia

AFFTON, MO – It was a tale of two games as the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy needed extras in the opener to win game one of an American Midwest Conference doubleheader against Columbia 6-5, but the Cougars ran away with game two 16-4.

In the opener, it was Payton Reinbott that would win it on a two-out RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth to bring in Jacy Knox who tripled to give the Eutectics a conference opening win. The Purple and Gold managed to pull out a win despite committing four errors and being out-hit 10-9.

Emma Henley took the circle to start game one and turned in a typical Henley-like performance: around the zone, not a big-time strikeout pitcher, efficient enough to limit damage and did a good job to keep the club in the game. Her numbers from this one were right in line with her season averages as she tossed all eight innings giving five runs, four earned on ten hits, walking and striking out a pair. Henley for the season has an ERA of 4.72, averages 2.73 strikeouts per game and has a WHIP of 1.49. Columbia was never able to put together a big inning against the UHSP starter and the Cougars ended up leaving ten runners on base eight of which were stranded in scoring position.

Columbia scored in the top of the first before Sydney Hinojosa knocked a two-run single in the bottom of the inning. Each team scored in the third and it was Hinojosa that again drove in the UHSP run with an RBI groundout to plate Hunter Noto and UHSP led 3-2. Columbia tied it in the fourth in an inning fueled by two early UHSP errors as Tasia Green doubled in a run to make it 3-3. Green went 4-for-5 in the game and scored three runs. Suzanna Shanks also went 4-for-5 for the Cougars to make it a solid duo at the top of the Columbia lineup. In the fifth, Noto led off the inning with a line drive down the line in right. Emma Bruno dove for the ball, but could not reach it and the ball went all the way to the fence. The speedster Noto came all the way around for an inside-the-park homerun and a 4-3 UHSP lead.

Columbia reclaimed the lead on an Emily King RBI double followed by a wild pitch that put the Cougars in from 5-4. The Eutectics managed to tie it in the bottom of the sixth as Jacy Knox doubled with one out and Makenzie Ness delivered a pinch-hit single to put runners at the corners. After a pitching change with Payton Reinbott pinch running for Ness and Henley at the plate, Reinbott took off for second, but slowed with the intention of drawing a throw. Emily King threw the ball all the way through and Knox took off for home. Knox was able to score as the Cougars managed to run down Reinbott for the out as UHSP traded the out for the run to tie the game at 5-5 setting up the dramatics by Reinbott two innings later. Hunter Noto went 2-for-3 and scored three runs while Jacy Knox was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Kennedy Jensen took the loss for Columbia going two-and-a third allowing a run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

In game two, Lexi Knoll toed the rubber for UHSP and her offense helped her to a 2-1 lead after two and a 4-3 lead through four. That is when the wheels fell off as Columbia scored three in the fifth, two in the sixth and unloaded for eight in the seventh. The Cougars roughed up the Purple and Gold out-hitting them 21-6 and capitalizing on four more UHSP errors. Reese Smith and Lacie Christensen had RBI's in the Eutectic second while Christensen added another RBI hit in the fourth.

Six different Eutectic hitters combined to provide the six UHSP hits in the game. Emily King was 4-for-5 with four RBI's in the win for Columbia. Knoll took the loss going six split innings allowing eight runs on 14 hits, striking out one. Hanna Burzynski came in between Knoll's two stint to pitch one inning surrendering eight runs, three earned on seven hits. Jazlin Gottman got the win for the Cougars tossing three-and-a-third relief innings of one hit shutout softball, walking one and fanning three.

The Eutectics (8-10, 1-1 AMC) continue a busy weekend of AMC play as they host the Stephens Stars (9-17, 2-0) on Sunday for a 1p and 3p doubleheader.