Columbia
FAIRFIELD
Chard-Yaron's No-Hitter Completes Softball's Sweep of Fairfield
4/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Chard-Yaron retired the side in order in the first, and Columbia put three runs on the board in its half of the first inning for the second time on the day.
After Chard-Yaron led off with a single to center, Lexie Costic laid down a sacrifice bunt. Fairfield pitcher Tara Hansen bounced off the rubber and tried to get Chard-Yaron at second, but the throw was wide and skipped all the way to center field wall, allowing Chard-Yaron to score and Costic to advance to third.
Keli Leong was up next and connected for her first collegiate home run, a long drive over the right-center field fence that gave the Lions a 3-0 advantage.
Chard-Yaron walked Erin Frank to lead off the second, but Frank was promptly thrown out trying to steal by Valerie Smith. Chard-Yaron retired the next eight batters before walking Frank again to lead off the fifth.
But Columbia's defense, which was stellar all day, again erased the runner. The next batter, Shannon Logan, hit a one-hopper to Kacy Krisman at third, who quickly threw to Hilary Parsons at second and the relay throw just nipped Logan at first for a nifty 5-4-3 double play.
In the top of the seventh, Chard-Yaron quickly retired Julia Jacoby on a comebacker to the circle and then got Molly Harris on a grounder to Parsons. Tara Hansen was up next, and she sent a floating liner wide of shortstop that Leong ran down a step onto the outfield grass for the final out, capping Chard-Yaron's outstanding performance with another defensive gem behind her.
Columbia also got off to a quick start in game one, loading the bases with nobody out. Valerie Smith singled through the hole between shortstop and third to bring home the first Lion run and Ciji Rich and Kacy Krisman brought home the second and third runs on outs. With a runner on in the second inning, Fairfield's Riannon Thomas connected off Jackie Adelfio for a two-run homer to bring the Stags within a run at 3-2.
But the Lions came back with three more in the third, capitalizing on three Fairfield errors. With the bases loaded and one out, Kacy Krisman ripped a triple up the gap in right-center, clearing the bases and putting Columbia ahead 6-2.
Fairfield picked up a run in the fourth and had four hits after the second inning, but Adelfio (11-6) limited the damage and held the Stags at bay, as she won her fourth straight decision.
The Lions added their seventh and final run in the sixth when Lexie Costic dropped a double just within the left-field line to score Hilary Parsons to make it 7-3 Columbia.
Columbia (15-14-1) returns to action on Thursday, April 6 when the Lions will host St. Francis (NY) at Columbia Softball Stadium. The first game is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
