Columbia University
UT Chattanooga
Lions Fall In Pair Of One-Run Games At Holy City Showdown
3/12/2016 7:34:00 AM | Softball
Chattanooga Box Score (PDF) | Michigan State Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Season Stats (HTML)GAME ONE RECAP: Chattanooga 3, Columbia 2
After giving up a run in the bottom of the first to the Mocs, the Lions came out attacking in the top of the second behind a leadoff double to the right-field fence by Taylor Troutt. Following a quick out, Alexandra Yule was able to blast a RBI double into the left-field gap to score Troutt and knot the game up at 1-1.
Still tied in the top of the third, Reilly Metzger was able to get the lineup going with a base hit into shallow center. After moving to second on a passed ball and third on a sac bunt by Olivia Parker, Kerry Cook was able to score Metzger on a RBI grounder to short to put the Lions on top, 2-1.
Unfortunately the Mocs responded back in the bottom half of the frame, tying the game on a RBI single by Criket Blanco to send the game into the fourth squared away at 2-2.
Despite a pair of back-to-back one-out hits by Gott and Troutt in the sixth, the Lions were unable to break the tie as the teams headed into the bottom of the seventh with the score still 2-2.
Chattanooga opened the inning up with an infield single before back-to-back base-hit bunts helped load the bases for the Mocs with nobody out. While Tonia Wu was able to get Jordan Fortel to pop up to second for out number one, Anyssa Robles was able to send a RBI single through the right side to score the game-winner on a bases-loaded, walk-off single to give the Mocs a 3-2 victory.
Jordan Fortel (4-5) earned the win after pitching 1.2 innings of hitless relief for the Mocs while Wu (2-5) took the loss after throwing 6.1 innings of work, allowing three earned runs while striking out five without giving up a walk.
Alexandra Yule and Taylor Troutt each finished the game 2-for-3 with a double while Yule added a RBI on her first career double in the second.
GAME TWO RECAP: Michigan State 3, Columbia 2
Michigan State jumped out to the early lead out of the gates with a sac fly to right to take a 1-0 advantage but it was senior Tessa Kroll who was able to get a strikeout to end the inning and strand a pair of Spartans on base.
Holding on to a 1-0 lead, the Spartans were able to extend things out in the top of the third as Celeste Wood sent a ball down the right-field line past a diving Reilly Metzger for an inside-the-park home run to make it a 2-0 advantage.
The Lions responded back in the bottom half of the inning, however, thanks to back-to-back singles by by Olivia Parker and Kerry Cook. After a right-side grounder to put the runners into scoring position, Maddie Gott and Taylor Troutt were able to team up for back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game up at 2-2.
After loading the bases with a four-pitch walk by Alexandra Yule to force a Michigan State pitching change, the Spartans were able to get out of the jam with a strikeout to send the game into the fourth all squared up at 2-2.
Michigan State was able to break the tie in the top of the fifth, however, as Kassidy Kujawa sent a RBI double into right before Metzger, Gott and Townsend were able to team up and throw her out at third to end the frame with the Spartans on top, 3-2.
Unfortunately the Lions were unable to plate another run as the Spartans held them hitless the rest of the way to preserve the 3-2 victory.
Kerry Cook led the Lions with a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with a run while Maddie Gott, Taylor Troutt and Olivia Parker picked up the team's other three hits in the loss.
Valerie Kaff (1-0) earned the win after 1.1 innings of hitless relief, allowing only one walk while striking out one. Tessa Kroll (1-3) took the loss after throwing a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits while walking a pair and striking out one.
The Lions will round out the Holy City Showdown on Sunday, March 12, as they take on No. 10/12 Georgia (10 a.m.) and Charleston Southern (3 p.m.).
*NOTE: Sunday morning is the start of Daylight Savings Time, so be sure to change your clocks accordingly.
