TAMPA, FLA. - Columbia dropped a 14-3 decision against Army in the first game of a three game series. Dan Neczypor went 2-for-4 at the plate with the team's two RBI. The Lions are now 0-5 on the season.

After two scoreless innings, Army was able to put up three runs on starter Bill Purdy. Purdy walked the first batter and the Black Knights were able to get three hits to put the three runners across.

Columbia tied the score in the top of the fourth with three hits and help from an Army error. Senior Marc Gold led off the inning with a single to left field and with one out junior Craig Rodwogin moved Gold to second with another single to the left side of the field. Next, junior Andrew Ward hit a grounder to the pitcher who tried to get Rodwogin out at second but threw the ball in the dirt. With two outs, Neczypor hit a hard single to left field, scoring Gold and Rodwogin and sending Ward to third. Neczypor stole second during the next at bat and as the Army catcher tried to throw him out, Ward stole home for the Lions final run of the game.

Army, however, had an answer in the bottom half of the inning. The Black Knight knocked in five runs off of three hits to go ahead 8-3. After a scoreless fifth inning, Army attacked again, this time scoring four runs off three hits. The Black Knights scored their last two runs of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning to win by a final score 14-3.

Purdy (0-2) was tagged with the loss, pitching 3 1/3 innings, giving up six hits and eight runs while walking four batters. Recording multiple hits along with Neczypor were Rodwogin and Gold who both had two hits.

The Lions face the Black Knights in a double header starting tomorrow, Sunday, March 12th at 2 p.m. at the Yankees Legends Field Complex.