Columbia
Minnesota
Softball Comes from Behind to Defeat Minnesota, 5-4
3/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
The Lions scored first, loading the bases on singles by Valerie Smith, Ciji Rich and Hilary Parsons with one out in the second. Lexie Costic then drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home the first run but the Lions were held from there.
Minnesota came back to score four times in their half of the second inning, but Columbia stormed back with three runs of their own in the next half-inning.
With one out in the third, Kacy Krisman ripped a double to left-center and Valerie Smith followed with a towering two-run home run, her fourth of the season. Rich followed with a single, advanced on a sacrifice by Amy Cass and came around to score on a sharp single up the middle from Parsons to knot the score at four.
Starter Jackie Adelfio held the Gophers' offense from there, only allowing three hits the rest of the way. She did run into a scare in the bottom of the fifth, however. With a runner at second and two out, Lisa Parks drove one to deep right-center, but Kim Krisman flagged it down while backpedaling, knocking over the temporary fence, but keeping the game tied.
Columbia broke through with the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh. With one out, Rich singled again and again advanced on a nicely placed sacrifice from Cass. Parsons then laid down a bunt between home and the mound and forced the pitcher to throw it wide of first and down the right field line. Rich raced around third and crossed the plate ahead of the throw from right field to put Columbia ahead to stay.
Rich went 4-4 with three runs, while Smith (2-4, two RBI) and Parsons (2-4, RBI) also posted multi-hit games for Columbia.
Maiya Chard-Yaron, who started two games for Columbia and had four RBI, was named to the Capital Classic's All-Tournament team.
Adelfio (7-4) picked up her second straight win for Columbia, while Rene Konderik (2-1) allowed the unearned run in the seventh to take the loss.
Columbia (10-8) went 9-5 on its spring break trip and will return to action at Baker Field on Thursday, March 23 in its home opener against Stony Brook. The first game of the doubleheader will take place at 2:30 p.m.
