CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Columbia softball team struggled to get much going offensively on day two of the USF Under Armour Invitational. The Lions fell to Central Michigan, 8-0, before dropping a 1-0 decision later in the day to Florida International. Senior Maggie Johnson went 2-for-3 against the Panthers in the nightcap and also was the hard-luck loser in the circle, tossing six innings of three-hit ball.
Game One -- Central Michigan
The Chippewas got on the board early, as a double by Amanda Klosterman scored Macy Merchant. CMU's Molly Coldren led off the second inning with a triple, and came around to score on a passed ball to put the Chippewas up 2-0.
Central Michigan would tack on three more runs in the third, with Coldren registering the big blow with a two-run single to center. Brogan Darwin would continue the offensive assault in the fifth with a two-run home run to put the score at 7-0, and Kari Seddon put the run-rule into effect with an RBI single.
The Lions had only two base runners the entire game, with senior Maggie Johnson leading off the second frame with a walk in addition to Snodgrass' single. Johnson advanced to second on a groundout with two away, but CMU pitcher Kara Dornbos was able to set the next batter down on strikes to get out of trouble.
Dornbos closed with five strikeouts in five innings of work to record the complete-game shutout. First-year Prophet Gaspard fell to 0-2 on the young season, as she allowed four runs on seven hits in three innings.
Game Two -- Florida International
Columbia threatened to take an early lead in the first inning with some two-out magic. After FIU retired the first two batters, senior Karen Tulig singled and classmate Maggie Johnson did the same to put a pair on. But Panthers pitcher Mariah Dawson struck out the next Lion to step to the plate, ending the threat.
The Lions would have another prime chance to score in the fourth frame. First-year Morgan Cook worked a one-out walk, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dawson set the next batter down on strikes, but first-year Tristin Moone came through with a single to left field. Cook rounded third on the play and headed for home, but the throw from FIU left fielder Erika Arcuri was right on the money to keep the game scoreless.
Florida International nearly took the lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Ashley McClain roped a one-out double. After a fly out, Jenny Welch singled to put runners on the corners with two down. But senior Anne Marie Skylis would come up big on the ensuing at-bat as she gunned down Welch trying to steal second and ended the inning.
Senior Stephanie Yagi led off the top of the fifth with a walk, and after sophomore Alison Lam pinch-ran for her, Lam was advanced all the way to third on a pair of sacrifices. With two down, Tulig stepped to the plate and went the other way with a pitch but FIU first baseman Rachel Slowik was there to snare the line drive and close out the scoring opportunity.
The Panthers finally broke the 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the fifth. Beth Peller led the frame off with a base on balls, and was moved to second on a sacrifice. Peller moved to third on a groundout, and scored on the same play after an error on Columbia.
Johnson tried to lead the Lions back in the top of the sixth with a leadoff single, but FIU caught pinch runner Prophet Gaspard stealing and retired the next five Columbia batters to close out the game.
Columbia will close out action at the USF Under Armour Invitational on Sunday, March 6 against Radford.
