In early-season softball action, the Cottey Comets dropped both games of a doubleheader in Sedalia Saturday against State Fair Community College. Cottey was edged 7-5 in the opener, and 10-4 in the nightcap.

Cottey returned to the diamond Monday for a twinbill in Springfield against Evangel University. Cottey (4-6) won the first contest 12-8, but was blanked 17-0 in the second game.

State Fair

In the opener Cottey took a lead into the late innings as starting pitcher Marisa Jervis tossed six innings of no-hit ball. After tying the game, State Fair broke out with five funs in the seventh, powered by a dramatic walk-off grand slam.

"Marisa pitched extremely well but ran out of gas at the end," Comets head coach Mark Skapin said.

For Cottey at the plate, Izzy Milligan was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Meanwhile, Lily Brockus and Hannah Bridges added home runs for the Comets.

Nightcap

State Fair rode its late game momentum into the nightcap, plating four runs in the first inning followed by a three-spot in the second to seize control.

"Wet tried to claw our way back but couldn't quite get there," Skapin said.

Milligan, who went 2-for-4 at the dish, also started in the circle, taking her first loss of the season. Bridges stayed hot at the plate, blasting her second round-tripper on the day.

Evangel contests

Jervis took the circle for the opener in Springfield, as Cottey trailed 6-1 through two innings of play. The Comets then began to mount a comeback, plating three runs in the third and two in the fourth. Evangel responded with a pair of runs in fourth to go in front 8-5.

In the fifth, Cottey tacked on two runs via base knocks from Breanna Kelley and Brockus to trim the lead to 8-7.

As the game wore on, Jervis got stronger, holding the Evangel bats in check.

A bases loaded pinch hit courtesy of Cottey's Dee Finley scored two runs in the sixth, while shifting the momentum back in the Comets favor, as they prevailed 12-8.

Bridges remained sizzling at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs scored, two steals and two walks. Milligan was 4-for-5 with four runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base; while Kelley was 3-for-5 with three RBIs.

In the 17-0 contest, Evangel led 9-0 after two innings of play, as Milligan was saddled with the loss.

The Comets are idle until March 18, when they travel to St. Louis for a Region 16 matchup with the Lady Archers. "We hope to work over spring break and return ready for the remainder of the season," Skapin said.

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Comets drop pair to State Fair, split with Evangel - Nevada Herald