NEW YORK -- First-year Prophet Gaspard and senior Maggie Johnson combined to hold Saint Peter's to just five hits over 13 innings of play as the Columbia softball team swept the Peahens in a doubleheader at a newly re-furbished Columbia Softball Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions struck for eight runs and 10 hits in an 8-0, six-inning victory in game one, then came from behind in the final two innings to take a thrilling 3-2 win in the nightcap.
Senior Anne Marie Skylis registered three hits over the two games, including a two-run home run that tied the second game at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Jennifer Bergeron also came through in the clutch, delivering the game-winning, two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to score first-year Morgan Cook.
Game One
The Lions opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, as Skylis led things off with a single through the left side. Skylis advanced to second on a stolen base, then trotted to third on a groundout.
With two away, first-year Tristin Moone smacked a run-scoring single up the middle to put the Lions up 1-0. Cook then came to the plate and belted an RBI double over the centerfielder's head to plate Moone and double Columbia's lead to 2-0.
Gaspard ran into some trouble in the top of the fourth, as she walked three batters in the inning to load the bases. On the game, the first-year hurler walked seven Peahens but was able to work out of trouble each and every time. With the bases juiced, Gaspard struck out Jillian Magee to close out the inning and end the threat.
Columbia would use the momentum to double its lead again in the bottom half, as first-years Emily Caruthers and Emily Snodgrass scored Johnson and Moone to make the score 4-0. An inning later, Moone came through for the second time with a two-out, two-run double to right to boost the Lions' lead to 6-0 in the fifth.
In the sixth, Snodgrass reached with a one-out walk, moved to second on a stolen base and advanced 60 more feet on an infield single from Bergeron to put runners on the corners. With senior Karen Tulig at the plate, Bergeron broke for second base while Snodgrass inched closer to home.
The St. Peter's catcher faked to second base, threw to third but her throw was errant and went into left field, allowing Snodgrass to score. Bergeron moved to third on a groundout by Tulig, then scored the game-winner on a single from Skylis with two away.
Gaspard tossed the first complete-game shutout of her career, and evened her record at 5-5 on the season while allowing just two hits while striking out seven. The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week is 5-1 with a 1.31 ERA over her last seven appearances, and has struck out 32 batters in 37.1 innings pitched over the span.
Game Two
A pitcher's duel broke out in the second game of the doubleheader, with St. Peter's hurler Shelby Beaver and Columbia senior Maggie Johnson holding each offense at bay for much of the contest. The Peahens managed just three hits over the course of seven innings, but took a 1-0 lead in the second.
Monique Flores laced the first pitch she saw all day -- she didn't play in game one -- to right field for a double with one out. After a flyout, Michelle Tinajero bounced one up the middle that Bergeron couldn't come up with to allow Flores to score.
The Lions stranded five runners over the first four innings, as Beaver did a nice job of keeping Columbia hitters off balance. In the top of the sixth, Beaver helped herself as she smashed a solo home run to double the St. Peter's lead to 2-0.
Down by two and with just six outs remaining, Columbia struck quickly in the bottom of the sixth. Tulig reached on an error to lead off, then Skylis belted the next pitch over the wall in left field to knot the contest at 2-2. The home run was the second of the season for Skylis, who is hitting .350 and has a team-high nine RBIs this year.
Johnson set the Peahens down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for the final-inning dramatics. A miscue by St. Peter's allowed Cook to reach to lead off, and she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Caruthers. A ground out by Snodgrass moved Cook to third, before Bergeron lined a 1-0 offering into the corner in left field to break the tie and give Columbia the doubleheader sweep.
Johnson earned the victory in the circle for the Lions, going seven innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out seven. The Danville, Calif. native also lowered her team-best ERA to 2.23.
Columbia continues its non-conference season on Tuesday, March 29 against Manhattan in Riverdale, N.Y. at 3 p.m.
