Athletes Beyond Bartow: Softball, baseball update for week ending February 24
Rain all across the Southeast limited the number of games completed this week for college softball and baseball programs, but some teams managed to avoid the weather cancellations. Former Cartersville standout Paris Poston had three hits last week as her Columbus State team improved to 8-6 on the softball diamond.
Two more former Canes’ pitchers — lefty Elliott Anderson at Auburn (photo) and Harrison Osborn at Point — had quality weeks. Anderson made three solid relief appearances and Osborn picked up another win in a start. Meanwhile former Woodland standout, Mason Robinson, continued his seven-game hitting streak to start the season for Louisiana Tech. NOTE: ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ updates for other sports will be published separately this week.
SOFTBALL
SARAH FOX — Agnes Scott College (Fr., Inf., Cass HS)… was 0-for-6 with a walk and one run scored in Saturday’s home doubleheader sweep of Sewanee. A Sunday doubleheader scheduled with LaGrange College was cancelled. The Scotties (2-4) travel to Brenau Tuesday and host Greensboro Friday.
PARIS POSTON — Columbus State University (Fr., OF, Cartersville HS)… playing in the Florida Tech Tournament in Melbourne, FL, the Cougars won four of five games. Poston made four starts and was 3-for-13 with a double, four walks, three RBI, a hit by pitch, a sacrifice, and two stolen bases. CSU (8-6) plays at Montevallo Wednesday before hosting the CSU Classic Friday through Sunday where the Cougars will face Lynn University, Barry University, Coker College, and King University.
ANNALYN YANTIS — Samford University (Sr., P, Cartersville HS)… made appearances this past Friday and Saturday in a loss to Lipscomb University and at Florida State during the FSU Invitational. Yantis did not start, but entered in the first inning with no outs and her team down 4-0 to toss six innings against Lipscomb. She allowed three earned runs on nine hits, two walks, and a hit batter. She recorded one strikeout in the 8-0 loss. Yantis also started against No. 1 Florida State Saturday, but recorded only two outs in the first inning before being lifted in an eventual 13-0 loss. She allowed seven earned runs on four hits and three walks. Samford (5-11) plays at Jacksonville State Wednesday before hosting Houston Baptist, Jackson State, Evansville, and Western Kentucky Friday through Sunday in the Samford Invitational.
BASEBALL
ELLIOTT ANDERSON — Auburn University (So., LHP, Cartersville HS)… worked two innings of middle relief Friday night as the 15th-ranked Tigers won the series opener at UCF 4-1. Anderson entered with two outs in the sixth inning and worked into the eighth allowing no runs on three hits and a pair of walks. He struck out two Knights. In an eighth inning relief appearance Sunday at Central Florida, he hit a batter but needed only nine pitches to retire the side as the Tigers won 13-9. He also worked a two inning stint last Tuesday as Auburn routed visiting Alabama A&M 10-1 in the first game of a doubleheader sweep. In four relief appearances this season, the southpaw has not yielded a run and has recorded 11 strikeouts in nine innings of work. Auburn (6-2) hosts Cincinnati this weekend in a three-game series.
BAILEY CAMPBELL — Young Harris College (So., 1B, Cass HS)… went 0-for-2 but was hit by a pitch and walked in a 13-1 loss at home Sunday against 6th-ranked Georgia College. The Mountain Lions had three other games cancelled this past week. YHC (6-6, 2-2 Peach Belt Conference) hosts a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta Tuesday, a single game with Cedarville University Thursday, before traveling to UNC-Pembroke for a three-game set Friday through Sunday.
CARRINGTON EVANS — Augusta University (R-So., OF, Cartersville HS)… went 2-for-4 Sunday with a walk, one RBI, and a run scored in an 11-6 win over Georgia Southwestern. He was also hitless in two official at-bats off the bench last Tuesday during a 4-3 home win over Emmanuel College. Augusta (7-7, 3-6 Peach Belt Conference) was 2-2 for the week. The Jaguars play at Coker College Tuesday and travel to Columbus State for a three-game conference series Friday through Sunday.
LANE GRIFFITH — University of West Georgia (Jr., C, Adairsville HS)… finished 0-for-3 in the first game of a doubleheader loss Sunday at Mississippi College. The Wolves (4-9, 2-3 Gulf South Conference) are scheduled to complete the three-game series at Mississippi College Monday. They will then host University of North Georgia Wednesday and a GSC three-game series Friday and Saturday with West Alabama.
HUNTER HICE — USC Upstate (Fr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… made a successful pinch hitting appearance Sunday in a 14-2 home loss to Virginia Commonwealth. He also made a start at third base Saturday going 0-for-2 before being lifted in a 6-3 home loss to Pittsburgh. Hice had his first collegiate hit February 18 coming off the bench to play third base in a 5-3 home loss to Kansas. USC Upstate (2-5) travels to Davidson Wednesday and hosts a three-game series with Ohio University Friday through Sunday.
HARRISON OSBORN (photo left) — Point University (So., RHP, Cartersville HS)… tossed eight strong innings and shutout Albany State Friday afternoon. Osborn allowed only two hits and three walks while striking out four in an eventual 6-0 win. The Skyhawks won two of three at Albany State and improved to 10-4 on the season. They host Morehouse College Wednesday in a doubleheader and will entertain Union College (KY) in a three-game series Friday and Saturday.
MASON ROBINSON — Louisiana Tech (R-Sr., OF, Woodland HS)… has now hit safely in all seven of the Bulldogs games this season including three, two-hit games this week. Robinson finished the week 7-for-17 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored as Louisiana Tech beat Louisiana-Lafayette Wednesday and won one of three at home against Troy over the weekend. He is hitting .375 in 32 ABs with an OPS of .894. The Bulldogs (5-2) host Arkansas State in a three-game series Friday through Sunday.
TRISTIN SMITH — Young Harris College (R-Sr., Inf., Adairsville HS)… came off the bench Sunday and was 0-for-1 at the plate in the Mountain Lions only game this week — a 13-1 loss to 6th-ranked Georgia College. YHC (6-6, 2-2 Peach Belt Conference) hosts a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta Tuesday, a single game with Cedarville University Thursday, and travels to UNC-Pembroke for a three-game PBC series Friday through Sunday.
DEVIN WARNER — Auburn University (Fr., Inf., Cartersville HS)… made a pinch hitting appearance in the DH spot in the order last Tuesday but struck out in the Tigers’ 10-1 home win over Alabama A&M. Auburn (6-2) hosts Cincinnati this weekend in a three-game series.
TYLER WASHINGTON — Young Harris College (Sr., OF, Adairsville HS)… entered defensively, but did not have an at bat in the Mountain Lions’ Sunday loss to 6th-ranked Georgia College. The loss slipped YHC to 6-6 overall and 2-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. It was their only game played this week. They are scheduled for a doubleheader with Clark Atlanta Tuesday at home and will host Cedarville University Thursday before heading to conference foe UNC-Pembroke for a three-game series Friday through Sunday.
