Columbia
ST. FRANCIS (N.Y.)
Softball Extends Win Streak to Five with Sweep of St. Francis (N.Y.)
4/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In game one, the Lions posted three runs in the first inning for the third straight game. Maiya Chard-Yaron led off with an infield single and ultimately advanced to third with one out. Keli Leong then reached safely on a squeeze bunt that brought home Chard-Yaron with the first run of the game.
After Valerie Smith singled and both runners advanced on a passed ball, Ciji Rich laced a double to right-center to score both, giving Columbia a 3-0 advantage.
The Lions added two more runs in the second. Hilary Parsons walked to lead off, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With one out, Chard-Yaron hit a slow grounder to shortstop and Parsons beat the throw home to make it 4-0. After Leong singled, Smith picked up her 20th RBI of the season with a single through the hole into left field.
After Columbia tacked on another run in the third on a Lacie Nelson RBI double, the Lions ultimately ended the game in the fifth with three runs with nobody out.
With the Lions ahead 6-1, Nelson struck out to lead off the inning, but when the third strike got past the Terriers' catcher, Nelson reacted quickly and sprinted to first to reach safely. Parsons and Kim Krisman then followed with consecutive singles to load the bases.
Again, Chard-Yaron reached on a fielder's choice when Nelson beat the shortstop's throw home on a potential force play. Lexie Costic lined a single to score the eighth run and Keli Leong ended the game with her fourth hit of the contest, a line single into right to make the final score 9-1.
Chard-Yaron picked up her second straight victory, allowing two hits over five innings.
The Lions again got on the scoreboard quickly in game two. With one out, Costic and Leong singled and advanced to second and third on an error. An error then scored the first run, bringing home Costic.
Columbia tallied twice in the second, as Kacy Krisman led off with her second double of the day. With one out, Hilary Parsons reached on a bunt single and Chard-Yaron brought home both runners with a two-out double to the left field corner to give Columbia a 3-0 edge.
The Lions finished their scoring in the top of the fourth. Kacy Krisman singled to lead off the inning, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Nelson, and eventually came around to score on a line single by Parsons.
Meanwhile, Adelfio had held the Terriers hitless over the first six innings, only allowing two walks and a hit by pitch, all to the leadoff batter, Janine Valentin. But, Amanda Devan, leading off the seventh and final inning, turned on an 0-1 riser and the ball stayed just inside the foul pole to break up the bid for a second Columbia no-hitter during the week. Adelfio did retire the side in order after the home run and picked up her fifth straight victory, finishing with 12 strikeouts, one shy of her career-high.
Now 17-14-1, Columbia will return to action on Saturday, April 8, when the Lions begin Ivy League play by hosting Harvard at Columbia Softball Stadium. The doubleheader is slated to begin at 1 p.m.
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