Tiffin - The Tiffin Columbian varsity softball team showcased plenty of offensive firepower on Tuesday, out-hitting New Riegel 7-6, but ultimately fell short in a 10-6 contest. Despite the loss, the Tornadoes' bats remained active throughout the afternoon, proving they could put pressure on the New Riegel defense from the first inning to the last.

Maizie Mellott provided the spark of the day for the Tornadoes, launching a towering solo home run to right field in the bottom of the third inning. That power surge was backed by a disciplined approach at the plate, with Emma Blott leading the team in RBIs by driving in two runs from the number eight spot in the lineup. The offensive effort was truly a collective one, as Breanna McNutt, Gabriella Conley, Maddy Richie, Elyssia Aller, Olyvia Steinmetz, and Blott all joined Mellott in the hit column.

On the mound, Mellott started the game for Columbian, while Gabby Shock provided four strong innings of relief work. Shock kept the Tornadoes within striking distance by allowing only one earned run during her tenure.

While the Tornadoes couldn't quite close the gap, their ability to consistently find holes in the defense provides a silver lining as they move forward in the schedule. Columbian will look to turn those hits into a victory on Wednesday when they travel to Sandusky for their next matchup.