Columbia
Colorado State
Softball Splits Pair of One-Run Contests
3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lions put three runs on the board in the first two innings against Colorado State, jumping on starter Jessica Strickland early. Valerie Smith singled home Maiya Chard-Yaron to plate the game's first run and Chard-Yaron singled home two runs in the second with two out to put Columbia ahead 3-0.
Chard-Yaron essentially cruised through the first six innings, only giving up four hits and holding the high-powered Rams' offense scoreless. In its final time at-bat, Colorado State broke through in a big way. Brittany Huerta led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run to center and pinch-hitter Julia Kloppe drove one over the fence to nearly the same spot to cut the Columbia lead to 3-2.
Jackie Adelfio entered for Chard-Yaron and retired the first batter she faced but then allowed consecutive base runners before the winning run crossed the plate on a passed ball.
Columbia did not wilt against Nevada, however. Behind a steady defense, Adelfio held the Wolfpack to a single run over eight innings and the Lions finally broke through against Nevada starter Jordan McPherson in the sixth inning.
Keli Leong, who has hit safely in 13 of her first 17 collegiate games, led off with a line single to left and advanced to third on consecutive wild pitches. Two pitches later, Chard-Yaron lined one off McPherson and into center field to bring home Leong and tie the score.
After Nevada put runners on second and third with no one out to start the seventh, Adelfio struck out Cindy Elkins and snagged a liner back to the mound off the bat of Brittany Puzey. Kacy Krisman then made a nice stop of a one-hopper down the line at third to end the inning.
Nevada had a chance in the top of the eighth with international rules in play. The Wolfpack had a runner on third with one out, but Hilary Parsons threw out Katie Stith on a one-hopper to second and Adelfio retired Candice Rainwater on a fly ball to give the Lions the chance to win it in the bottom of the frame.
Columbia did just that - with runners on the corners and one out, Chard-Yaron hit a sharp grounder to second and Lexie Costic broke for home, just getting her hand across the plate to score the winning run.
Adelfio (6-4) struck out five over eight innings for her sixth win in her last seven starts.
Columbia (9-8) will conclude play at the Capital Classic on Sunday, March 19 when the Lions will take on Minnesota at noon Eastern time.
