Clutch Home Runs Leads Columbia To Sweep In Columbia Classic Finale

Saturday, March 26

New York, N.Y. (Columbia Softball Stadium)

12:00 PM

Columbia

Canisius

Clutch Home Runs Leads Columbia To Sweep In Columbia Classic Finale

3/26/2016 8:07:00 AM | Softball

By: Columbia University Athletics

Canisius

Columbia

Fairleigh Dickinson

Columbia

Canisius Box Score (PDF) | FDU Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Season Stats (HTML)

NEW YORK – A pair of clutch home runs, including a three-run walk-off by Maddie Gott, led the Columbia softball team (5-17) to a pair of wins to sweep the final two games of the Inaugural Columbia Classic on Saturday afternoon.

The pair of victories snaps a 13-game skid for the Lions and gives them momentum heading into Ivy League action next weekend as they welcome Yale to New York for the conference opener on April 1.

GAME ONE RECAP: Columbia 3, Canisius 1 (8 innings)

After falling to Fairleigh Dickinson in a walk-off to open the second day of the Columbia Classic, Canisius came out looking to attack in their second game of the day as they posted up a run off a pair of hits and a Columbia error to take the early 1-0 advantage.

While the Lions were sat down in order over the next two innings, it was Krystin Wong who was able to get things started in the bottom of the third as she worked a two-out walk on a six-pitch at bat before stealing second to put a runner in scoring position. With two away and a 2-1 count, Kerry Cook was able to blast a ball down the right-field line, scoring Wong from second to tie the game up at 1-1 heading into the fourth.

That momentum was enough to keep Tonia Wu pumping strikes on the mound as she sat down the Golden Griffins in order to end the top of the fourth, picking up a pair of strikeouts to hold the Canisius offense at bay.

Although the Columbia offense was able to threaten with a pair of base runners in their next two innings, they were unable to score as the game went into the seventh all squared away at 1-1.

Canisius looked as if they were going to take back the lead in the top of the seventh with a pair of hits, including a double by Moriah Harris, but after a mound visit, Wu was able to get the next two batters out to strand two runners on and get the Lions' offense back to the plate.

Unfortunately the Lions were unable to produce a run in the bottom of the inning as they went down in order, sending the game into extra innings with the international tiebreaker rule starting each inning with a runner on second.

The Golden Griffins opened the top of the eighth inning with a sac bunt to move their runner over to third, but Wu was able to sit down the next three batters in order to give Columbia a chance to end it in the bottom of the eighth.

That's exactly what the Lions would do as Maddie Gott stepped to the plate with Krystin Wong on second, two outs and a 2-2 count, blasting the sixth pitch of the at bat deep over the left-field fence for a two-run walk-off home run to give Columbia a 3-1 victory.

Tonia Wu (3-5) earned the win after an impressive eight innings of work, allowing only one unearned run on four hits while striking out seven without giving up a walk. Allie Block (1-4) took the loss after 2.2 innings of relief, allowing only one earned run on one hit after striking out four.

Kerry Gook (2-for-4, RBI) and Maddie Gott (2-for-4, 2 RBI) each picked up a pair of hits while Alexandra Yule picked up the only other hit for the Lions.

GAME TWO RECAP: Columbia 7, Fairleigh Dickinson 6

After each team stranded a pair on base in the first inning, Tessa Kroll was able to come out firing for the Lions in the top of the second, sitting the Knights down in order on only eight pitches to bring the Columbia offense to the plate.

With momentum building from the 1-2-3 inning and a crowd roaring in the stands, the Lions were able to start a rally as they posted up a pair of runs on a sac fly by Krystin Wong and a RBI single by Kerry Cook to give Columbia a 2-0 advantage.

Unfortunately Fairleigh Dickinson responded back in the top of the third, posting up five runs on four hits and a Columbia error to take back the lead, 5-2.

Following a FDU pitching change, the Lions began to respond as Maddie Gott and Taylor Troutt were able to lead things off with back-to-back hits to spark the offensive rally. Thanks to a walk by Alexandra Yule to load the bases, Maura Lynch was able to send a RBI single into center to score Gott before Troutt could take advantage of an errant throw to put across a pair of runs and cut the FDU lead to 5-4.

Still trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth, Kerry Cook was able to get things going as she sent her first pitch of the at bat into right for a one-out hit before Reilly Metzger could put another runner on with an infield single, forcing a FDU mound visit.

With two on and one out, Taylor Troutt stepped to the plate and lifted a 2-1 pitch deep over the right-center wall for a three-run go-ahead home run to put the Lions in front, 7-5.

While the Knights were able to open the seventh with a leadoff home run by Madelaine Wilen to cut the deficit to one, Kayla Maloney was able to retire the next three batters to end the game and hand the Lions a 7-6 victory and secure the sweep.

Maloney (1-4) took home the win after 4.1 innings of relief, giving up only one run on one hit while striking out a batter. Cheryl Lopez (3-7) picked up the loss after 3.0 innings of relief, giving up three runs on three hits while striking out three.

Kerry Cook (2-for-4, RBI), Reilly Metzger (2-for-4) and Taylor Trout (2-for-4, 3RBI) each picked up a pair of hits in the win.

Columbia will kick off Ivy League action next weekend as it welcomes Yale (April 1) and Brown (April 2) to the Columbia Softball Stadium.