MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Maria Kappos' three-run home run in the second inning provided the spark in Flagler College's 7-1 victory over Columbus State University in a quarterfinal game of the Peach Belt Conference Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at the Peeler Complex.

Flagler, the No. 3 seed, extended its winning streak to five games and improved to 36-18. The Saints have won 14-of-their-last-15 games. Columbus State, the No. 6 seed, dropped its sixth game in a row to conclude its season at 27-26-1. The Lady Cougars lost their last seven-of-10 games.

The Saints began the second inning with Natalie Murphy hitting a single back up the middle, and then a sacrifice bunt by her sister Maddy turned into a single. Two batters later, Kappos belted the home run over the left field wall.

That would be all of the offense Ally Marcano (23-6) would need. She tossed a complete game, scattered five hits, allowed one run, walked two and fanned five. After allowing a lead-off hit in the first inning, she retired 13-of-the-next-15 batters. Marcano induced 14 grounds outs and three fly outs.

The Saints tacked on two runs apiece in the fourth and sixth innings. Kappos drove in a run with a double in the fourth. She finished the game with four runs batted in. Tatum Morgan had a pinch hit single in the sixth, which plated a run.

Maddy Murphy went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and she had one RBI. Natalie Murphy collected two hits, including a double, and she scored two runs.

Darby Demarest (8-9) tossed three-plus innings, allowed four hits and four runs. She struck out four batters. Peyton Sorrells closed out the game for the Lady Cougars.

Kia Smith led off the sixth with a triple and scored when Calli Star's grounder to second was bobbled.

Flagler will take on Armstrong State University tomorrow (April 22) at 10 a.m. in the first semifinal. The Pirates swept the Saints earlier this year.