Box Scores: Columbia-Utah Valley, Columbia-Bucknell
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Columbia softball team suffered a pair of losses on Tuesday, their second day competing in the Rebel Spring Games. The Lions fell to Utah Valley, 8-5, and to Bucknell, 6-0.
Columbia (2-9) jumped out to a 4-0 lead over Utah Valley (11-5-1). In its first game of the day, but the Wolverines rallied back with three runs in the fourth and five in the sixth for the comeback win. Against Bucknell (4-7), the Lions and Bison were locked up at 0-0 until the bottom of the third when Bucknell put up five runs to take control of the game.
Game 1: Utah Valley 8, Columbia 5
The Lions started strong in the first when Emily Snodgrass hit a leadoff single to center off Wolverines starting pitcher Cassie Herrera. Two batters later, Jennifer Bergeron ripped a single to right field to move Snodgrass to second. Christie Taylor followed with an RBI single to left center to give Columbia the 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third inning, Columbia poured on three more runs to build its lead to 4-0. Morgan Cook hit a leadoff single through the left side off a full count and Bergeron walked on a full count in the next at-bat. Two batters later, with two outs Kalli Schultea belted a double to left field and advanced to third on the throw, plating two runs. Two batters later, Schultea crossed the plate for a the Lions' fourth run following an error at second base.
Utah Valley struck back in the top of the fourth. With two runners on and no outs, Jamie North hit a three-run home run to left off Columbia starting pitcher Tristin Moone, who had pitched three solid innings prior to that. Brooke Darling (1-4) relieved Moone in the circle and closed out the inning with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts.
The Wolverines took command of the game in the top of the sixth when they exploded with five runs. With one out and runners on second and third, Kelli Fox hit an RBI bunt single to third base to plate Maddy Schulz. Amanda Robinson followed with an RBI single up the middle to give Utah Valley a 5-4 lead. Fox scored the Wolverines' sixth run when Kristin Jachim reached on an error at short. After that, Jessica Uresti hit an RBI single to third base and Kylee Brinkerhoff hit an RBI single up the middle.
The Lions started to rally back in the bottom of the sixth, but left two runners on base while only scoring one run. With runners on second and third, Bergeron hit a sac fly to right field off Utah Valley reliever Tiffany Mills to plate Kayla Shimoda from third base. Two runners were left stranded when Mills induced a lineout to short and a groundout to second to close the inning.
Columbia combined for 10 hits in the game, but the Lions also committed three errors. Alix Cook was 3-of-4 at the plate. Bergeron was a perfect 2-of-2 with one RBI, one walk and one run scored. Morgan Cook went 2-of-4 with one run and Snodgrass was 2-of-4 with one double and one run.
Moone tossed three innings, striking out four and allowing three earned runs. Darling tossed four innings with four strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
Herrera threw three frames with three strikeouts and three earned runs. Peay (2-0) earned the win after two innings of work with one strikeout and one earned run. Mills tossed two innings with two strikeouts.
Game 2: Bucknell 6, Columbia 0
Columbia and Bucknell traded two and a half scoreless frames before the Bison plated five runs in the bottom of the third. Caryn Connors scored the first run of the game when she advanced from third on a passed ball. In the following at-bat, Erin Cox hit an RBI single to left field off Columbia starter Brooke Darling (1-5). Bridget Gates was next with triple down the right field line that brought in two runs to give Bucknell a 4-0 advantage. Gates scored the Bison's sixth run when Tori Robinson reached on an E6.
The Lions had a chance to respond in the top of the fourth, but left three runners stranded. With two outs, Jennifer Bergeron ripped a single to left field. Christie Taylor followed with an infield single to the shortstop. Liz Caggiano's infield single to third bases set the table for Kalli Schultea, but Bucknell pitcher Bridget Gates induced a pop-up to third to escape unscathed.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bison added one more run. With one out and runners on the corners, Mary Horton scored from third when a throwing error on a failed attempt to stop Cassie Greenhawk from stealing second sent the ball into the outfield.
Columbia also left two runners on base in the top of the seventh. Tristin Moone hit a one-out single through the left side. Two batters later Mackenzie Lakian drew a two-out walk. Alison Lam battled with a 2-2 count and two outs but ultimately grounded out to first ,ending the game.
Bergeron had another multi-hit game, going 2-of-3 with one triple. Taylor and Lakian were each 1-of-2 and Caggiano was 1-of-3.
Dalring took the loss after allowing two earned runs over three innings. Schultea allowed one unearned run over the final three frames in relief work.
Gates took the win after tossing seven shutout innings and strikeout out three.
The Lions will be back in action on Thursday when they face Youngstown State and Nebraska-Omaha on Thursday at Fortune Road Athletics Complex. Columbia will play the Penguins at 11 a.m. and the Mavericks at 1 p.m. Both games are on Field 1.
NOTE: Alison Lam was named to the Ivy League's Weely Honor Roll on Tuesday after she hit .333 last week at Towson.
