Columbia
Canisius
Lions Swept In Opening Day Of Inaugural Columbia Classic
3/25/2016 12:03:00 PM | Softball
GAME ONE: Canisius 5, Columbia 0
While Alexandra Yule was able to pick up the first hit of the game with a one-out single in the bottom of the second, it was the Golden Griffins who plated the first run as they took advantage of a RBI double by Jessica Berzins in the top of the third to give Canisius a 1-0 advantage.
The Golden Griffins were not done there, unfortunately, as they responded back from a Krystin Wong double in the bottom of the third with another run on a pair of hits in the bottom of the frame to make it a 2-0 lead.
Columbia was able to pick up its third double of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Maura Lynch sent a 2-2 pitch into the left-center gap, but unfortunately with the help of another run in the sixth and a pair in the seventh, Canisius was able to go on and seal a 5-0 victory.
Yule finished the game 2-for-3 to earn half of the team's four hits while Wong and Lynch took the other two with their respective doubles.
Erika Mackie (4-8) earned the win after throwing a complete-game shutout while Tessa Kroll (1-8) took the loss after 4.0 innings of work, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out a pair.
GAME TWO: Fairleigh Dickinson 14, Columbia 9
After sitting down the Knights in order to open the game, Columbia came was able to take advantage of three-straight walks to start the bottom of the first. While FDU was able to pick up its first out on a popup, the Lions took advantage of yet another walk as Alexandra Yule picked up a five-pitch base-on-balls to plate the first run of the game for Columbia.
Unfortunately the Knights were able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and another popup to strand the bases loaded and keep the Columbia lead at 1-0 heading into the second.
While the Knights looked like they would threaten with a runner in the top of the second, Reilly Metzger was able to make a diving catch into the wall in right and double up the runner at first to end the inning and send the Lions to the plate.
That momentum was exactly what the Columbia offense needed as the Lions rallied for five runs on six hits in the bottom of the second to take a 6-0 advantage.
With one out, the Lions were able to team up for four-straight singles before Taylor Troutt could blast a 2-0 pitch over the right-center fence for a grand slam to cap the five-run inning.
Unfortunately Fairleigh Dickinson answered right back in the top of the third, picking up five runs on five hits and a pair of CU errors to cut the Columbia lead to 6-5.
While the Lions were able to get a runner on with a FDU error in the bottom of the third, it was the Knights that responded back in the top of the fourth as they plated two more runs to take a 7-6 lead after three and a half innings of play.
Down a run in the bottom of the fourth, Alexandra Yule was able to tie the game up as she blasted a solo home run on the first pitch over the left-field wall to send the game to the fifth all knotted at 7-7.
The offensive battled continued in the top of the fifth as the Knights were able to pick up six more runs after six hits before the Lions could strand a runner on base with FDU on top, 13-7.
After going down in order in the top of the fifth, Taylor Troutt was able to blast a leadoff homer down the left-field line and over the foul pole and only two batters later, Maura Lynch was able to blast a solo shot of her own down the left-field line to cut the FDU lead to 13-9.
Unfortunately the Knights were able to grab one more run on a pair of hits in the seventh to claim their 14-9 victory.
Thanks to a Kerry Cook single in the bottom of the seventh, the Lions were able to finish game two with double-digit hits as the two teams combined for 23 runs on 29 hits in the game.
Loren Stavrou (1-5) earned the win after pitching 5.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out one. Kayla Maloney took the loss after only one inning of work, giving up three runs on three hits.
The Lions will return to action on Saturday, March 26, for day two of the Columbia Classic starting at Noon.
