Columbus, Ga. - When heading into a tournament that's invite-only, the competition is certainly known to be at a very high level. That's what the ICC softball team (7-7) had in front of them. The Cougars had 'baptism by fire', starting with D1 #3 Florida Southwestern, then also battling D1 Chipola, #15 Pearl River, D1 #11 Seminole State, and #2 Des Moines Area. Regardless of record by the end of the weekend, it would be a very good early-season test for coach Heather Doty's squad. 

D1 #3 FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN 11, (RV) ICC COUGARS 3
It took all of two batters. Olivia Stirnaman drew a leadoff walk, and that brought up Olivia Drish. On the first pitch of the at bat, Drish launched a two-run homer to put ICC ahead 2-0 after just half an inning. The Bucs responded quickly with a steal of home and an RBI double. After Florida Southwestern got out to a 4-2 lead, the Cougars pulled back within a run on Drish's second home run of the game. 

That, however, would be the game's last time ICC crossed home plate. The Bucs ballooned their lead with seven unanswered runs, including a three-run fourth and three-run sixth, ultimately coming away with a run-rule win. 

Hitting:
Olivia Drish | 2 home runs, 3 RBI
Olivia Stirnaman | 2 walks

Pitching:
Olivia Drish | 4 innings, 3 strikeouts
Kiersten Manning | 1.2 innings, 1 strikeout

D1 CHIPOLA 7, (RV) ICC COUGARS 0
Early on in the Cougars' second game of the day, they found themselves locked in a pitchers duel with Chipola, a team who although out of the national poll, had recently been as high as #14 in the D1 poll. While the Indians did get a run on the board for a 1-0 lead after the top of the first, four full scoreless innings by both teams. 

That was, until Chipola pulled away to the tune of a four-run sixth inning. That turned into a pair of insurance runs in the seventh as well, setting the final score. 

By the final out being recorded, ICC had only recorded three hits. 

Hitting:
Shylar Boze | 2 hits
Savanah Clifton | 1 hit

Pitching:
Kiersten Manning | 5.2 innings, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Olivia Drish | 1.1 innings, 2 strikeouts

#15 PEARL RIVER 6, (RV) ICC COUGARS 4
By the third game of the day, it may be hard to maintain a good enough level of energy. That, however, is not the case for the Cougars. After a three-run game and getting shut out, the final game on Friday would turn out to be ICC's biggest offensive output of the day. 

It didn't start like that, though. Pearl River marched to the tune of a 4-0 lead after two and a half innings. 

The ever-dangerous leadoff walk. That's what Alyssa Beltran drew on the seventh pitch of her at bat. A double from Marley Williamson put a pair of runners in scoring position. Add an Olivia Stirnaman walk and the Cougars had the bases loaded. Savanah Clifton would then line a bases-clearing double into left field, turning a 4-0 deficit into a one-run game at 4-3. 

From there, a miniature three-inning pitcher's duel ensued, with neither team scoring in the fourth, fifth, or sixth innings. Pearl River would add a two-run cushion in their last trip to the plate, going ahead 6-3.

It wasn't for a lack of fight from ICC. The Cougars got a walk from Beltran, followed by a two-out double from Stirnaman to score Beltran and make it a 6-4 game. With the tying run at the plate, the Cougars hit into a game-ending groundout. 

Hitting:
Savanah Clifton | 2 hits, 3 RBI
Olivia Stirnaman | 1 hit, 1 RBI
Alyssa Beltran | 2 walks drawn

Pitching:
Olivia Drish | 7 innings, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts

(RV) ICC COUGARS 6, D1 #11 SEMINOLE STATE 5
A new day, a new slate. After a couple scoreless innings, Kiersten Manning got the Cougars on the board with a solo home run. After Seminole State answered with a pair of runs to go back up 3-1, the Cougars took control. 

ICC ran off five unaswered runs. In the sixth, a pair of singles were almost erased by a double play. A walk drawn by Brooke Cordray, however, put two baserunners right back on the basepaths. Follow that up with an Olivia Stirnaman single (scoring Williamson and Cordray), and it's 3-3. 

After a scoreless top of the seventh, that left the door open for Seminole State to walk it off. They would not. Kiersten Manning locked it down in the seventh, doing so quite efficiently, with two of the outs being recorded within the first four pitches of the at bat. 

With the international tiebreaker in play (runner starts on second base), ICC wasted no time capitalizing. Alyssa Beltran layed down a sacrifice bunt, setting up Marley Williamson for a go-ahead single, scoring Shylar Boze and putting the Cougars ahead 4-3 in the eighth. 

Alas, the Cougars were not done. Cordray reached on an error that also scored Gracie White. Stirnaman doubled to score Cordray. That would give ICC a three-run cushion headed to the bottom of the eighth. 

That cushion, it turns out, would be enough, but not with a lack of drama. A sacrifice fly scored the placed runner for Seminole State and made it a two-run game. After that, a single, walk, and single. The latter of the singles made it 6-5, and put the walk-off run on first base. 

After another single loaded the bases, that made for a certainly stressful final out to record. After getting behind in the count 2-0, Kiersten Manning worked it back to a 2-2 count, eventually getting the Seminole State batter to strike out looking and secure the one-run win. 

Hitting:
Olivia Stirnaman | 3 hits, 2 RBI
Marley Williamson | 3 hits, 1 RBI
Kiersten Manning | 2 hits, 1 RBI

Pitching:
Kiersten Manning | 8 innings, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts

(RV) ICC COUGARS 3, #2 DES MOINES AREA 2
After a pair of scoreless frames, it was ICC that finally hit the scoreboard first, with Olivia Drish doubling, scoring Kylie Hyde (walk) and Olivia Stirnaman (single). Come to find out, those two runs would nearly be enough. 

ICC went up 3-0 on an RBI double from Shylar Boze, scoring Brooke Cordray. 

Just like the previous game, this one would come with some late-game drama. Des Moines Area would lead off the next inning with a home run. 3-1 ICC. 

A couple walks and an error had ICC with the bases loaded in the sixth, looking to add insurance, but they were stranded. 

The Bears started their half of the sixth with three straight singles to load the bases. Ultimately, a strikeout and a popout snuffed their bases-loaded attempt as well. 

ICC got a leadoff single from Manning in the top of the seventh, but she would be stranded as well. So like the matchup with Seminole State, a bottom of the seventh walk-off was in play. 

A pair of singles within the first four at-bats put runners on the corners with two outs for the Bears. That was followed by a single to score a run and make it 3-2 ICC. 

The Cougars got out with a one-run win when Marley Williamson caught a flyout to end the game. 

Hitting:
Olivia Drish | 2 hits, 2 RBI
Olivia Stirnaman | 2 hits, 1 walk
Shylar Boze | 1 hit, 1 RBI

Pitching:
Olivia Drish | 7 innings, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 1 strikeout

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Midwest Bash JUCO Classic
vs. #20 Rock Valley Golden Eagles
Friday, March 10th - 11:00 AM
@ Deaconess Sports Park - Evansville, Ind.
Watch Live & Live Stats (GameChanger)