Walk-Off Winner Gives Lions Split In Conference Opener

Friday, April 1

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

2:00 PM

Columbia

Yale

Walk-Off Winner Gives Lions Split In Conference Opener

4/1/2016 8:02:00 PM | Softball

By: Columbia University Athletics

Yale

Columbia

Yale

Columbia

NEW YORK – A two-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth of game one by Krystin Wong helped lead the Columbia softball team (6-18, 1-1) to a doubleheader split against Yale in the Ivy League opener on Friday afternoon.

GAME ONE RECAP: Columbia 3, Yale 2 (9 Inn.)

After Tonia Wu was able to pick up all three outs on strikeouts to open the game, the Columbia offense wasted no time attacking in its Ivy League opener as Maddie Gott sent a two-out single into left center in the bottom half of the first. After a five-pitch walk to Taylor Troutt, Alexandra Yule was able to rip a base hit up the middle to score Gott and put Columbia on the board first, 1-0.

The Bulldogs responded back in the top of the third, however, thanks to a RBI double into the right-center gap by Allison Skinner to tie the game at 1-1 heading into the fourth.

Still squared away in the bottom of the sixth, Taylor Troutt was able to lead off the inning with a four-pitch walk to get things going. With Olivia Parker in to pinch run for Troutt, Alexandra Yule was able to lay down a sac bunt before Tonia Wu could send a RBI double over the centerfielder's head to give Columbia back the lead, 2-1.

The Bulldogs responded back once again in the next frame as Camille Weisenbach led off the top of the seventh with a double into the left-center gap. With the help of an infield single to put runners on the corners with two outs, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of a Columbia error to tie the game back at 2-2 with an unearned run.

After battling back and forth all the way to the bottom of the ninth inning, it was the rookie centerfielder Krystin Wong who stepped things up for the Lions, sending a two-out, walk-off homer over the left-field fence to give Columbia the 3-2 win.

Tonia Wu (4-5) earned the win after throwing all nine innings, giving up only one earned run while striking out seven along the way. Francesca Casalino (2-7) took the loss after throwing 2.2 innings of relief, allowing only one run on a pair of hits while Terra Jerpbak started the game for the Bulldogs, going 6.0 innings of four-hit ball.

GAME TWO RECAP: Yale 1, Columbia 0 (8 Inn.)

Game two of the doubleheader was much less of an offensive battle for both teams as it remained scoreless all the way until the eighth inning. Columbia had its opportunities early on, however, as it left seven runners on over the first four innings without plating a run.

The biggest offensive threat by the Lions came in the bottom of the fourth when Alexandra Yule led things off with a base hit into left. After Olivia Parker came in to pinch run for Yule and stole second, Jordan Townsend was able to send an infield single into the six-hole and Krystin Wong was able to work a six-pitch walk to load the bases, but Lindsay Effldandt was able to get out of the jam and strand the bases loaded to send it scoreless into the fifth.

Senior Tessa Kroll was able to bear down from there, holding the Bulldogs to only one hit over the next three innings to send the game into the eighth still scoreless.

Lauren Delgadillo didn't hesitate in the top of the eighth, unfortunately, as she sent the first pitch into left for a leadoff single. With the help of a passed ball and a sac bunt, Shelby Kennedy was able to send a RBI grounder to third, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 advantage.

Despite a leadoff single by Maddie Gott to open the bottom half of the frame, Shelby Kennedy was able to make a diving grab in shallow left field before Yale could get Tonia Wu to ground out to second and seal the 1-0 victory.

Kroll (1-9) took the loss despite 8.0 innings of work without allowing an earned run or a walk. Lindsay Efflandt (3-7) earned the win for Yale after throwing all eight innings of scoreless ball, giving up eight hits while striking out four.

The Lions will return to action on Saturday, April 2, when they welcome Brown to the Columbia Softball Stadium for a doubleheader starting at 12:30 p.m.