While the Lions were held to only one run in the opening-game loss to Boston University, the offense came back and rallied for nine hits in game two while senior Tessa Kroll held the Maryland defense at bay to seal the victory.
Game Two Recap: Columbia 4, Maryland 1
After senior Tessa Kroll sat the Terps down in order to open the top of the first, it was the Columbia offense that came out of the gate swinging in the bottom of the frame, posting up four runs on four hits and a Maryland error to grab the early 4-0 lead.
Kerry Cook was able to start things off with an infield single to short, and even after a double play by the Terps, the Lions were able to bounce back as Shelby Unger sent a base hit up the middle before Maddie Gott blasted her first home run of the season over the left-field wall to give Columbia a 3-0 advantage.
The rally wouldn't end there, however, as Alexandra Yule worked a two-out walk to allow Taylor Troutt to get to the plate and send a RBI double through the left side, scoring Yule to extend the Columbia lead to 4-0 after the first inning of play.
With the Lions leading, 4-0, in the bottom of the sixth the Terps were able to get a runner within 60 feet of scoring thanks to a one-out double, but Kroll was able to get out of the jam with a ground ball to second.
Maryland began to rally back in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back hits, including a RBI double to left-center to get the Terps on the board, but Kroll was able to finish out the game to give Columbia its first win of the season, 4-1.
Kroll (1-0) earned the victory after throwing a complete game, allowing one run on eight hits while striking out one. Yule finished the game 2-for-2 with a walk while Cook went 2-for-3 and scored a run for the Lions.
Game One Recap: Boston University 5, Columbia 1
Columbia wasted no time getting on the board to open the 2016 season as Kerry Cook opened the game with an infield single to the pitcher and with the help of a hit by pitch and pair of walks with two outs, the Lions were able to put the first run of the season across to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Terriers answered back with a pair of hits while taking advantage of a pair of Columbia errors in the bottom half of the frame, however, plating two runs to take back the lead, 2-1, heading into the second.
Despite holding the Terriers scoreless over the next three innings, a pair of Columbia errors and four hits in the bottom of the fifth allowed BU to extend their lead to 5-1 on three unearned runs.
Unfortunately the Lions were unable to plate another run after the first inning as they were held to only two hits in the game, falling to the Terriers, 5-1, in the season opener.
Kerry Cook and Alexandra Yule earned the only two hits for the Lions while Taylor Troutt picked up the RBI on her walk in the first. Tonia Wu (0-1) took the loss despite 4.1 innings of work, allowing only one earned run after striking out four.
The Lions will return to action on Saturday morning as they take on Stony Brook (11:15 a.m.) and Maryland (1:30 p.m.) in the second day of action at the FAU Invitational.
