Softball Kicks Off Division Play With Weekend Trip To Ithaca
4/15/2016 10:00:00 AM | Softball
Ivy League Digital Network
The Columbia softball team (9-24, 2-6 Ivy) will kick off division action this weekend as it heads to Ithaca, New York, to take on Cornell in four games on April 16-17.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
All four games this weekend will be streamed live on the Ivy League Digital Network (ILDN) and via live stats. Fans can also join in on the action on Twitter (@CULionsSoftball) by using #ColumbiaSB.
ON THE ROAD
This weekend wraps up a 10-game road trip for the Lions after spending last weekend in New England where they were swept by both Harvard and Dartmouth before taking a pair of wins from Saint Peter's on Thursday afternoon. During that six-game stretch, the Lions have had two players hitting over .500 in Jordan Townsend (.563) and Maddie Gott (.526).
GET IT, GOTT IT, GOOD
Over the last 14 games, Maddie Gott has come alive for the Lions as she has put together a .435 batting average with two doubles, five home runs and 10 RBI for a team-leading .804 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage. On Thursday against Saint Peter's, the shortstop was able to pick up a pair of two-run home runs in game two to lead the Lions to a sweep over the Peacocks.
TALKING ABOUT TROUTT
Taylor Troutt has been the offensive leader this year for the Lions, posting a .340 batting average with seven doubles, nine home runs, 30 RBI and eight walks for a .691 slugging percentage and .418 on-base percentage.
WATCH OUT FOR WONG
Krystin Wong has been a hot bat for the Lions in Ivy League play this year, hitting .316 (6-for-19) with two runs scored, a pair of RBI, two walks and a walk-off home run over Yale on April 1.
FRESHMAN ON FIRE
First-year Jordan Townsend had a day to remember on Thursday afternoon as she went 7-for-8 in a doubleheader sweep over Saint Peter's. The rookie has also been strong for the Lions in conference play this year, hitting .375 (6-for-16) with three doubles, a triple and a home run for a team-leading .875 slugging percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
Columbia holds a 16-34-0 all-time record against Cornell in a series that dates back to 2001. Last year, the Lions took one of the four games from the Big Red at home with a 6-3 victory but were outscored, 19-10, on the weekend.
A QUICK LOOK AT CORNELL
Cornell heads into the weekend with a 6-20 overall record and 1-7 conference mark after an opening split with Harvard on April 1. Since then, the Big Red has lost its last seven-straight Ivy League games before taking a mid-week sweep over Albany on April 13. Meg Parker has led the Cornell offense, hitting .388 with six doubles and five home runs for a .650 slugging percentage and .437 on-base percentage after only striking out three times in 26 games. Parker has also been one of the team's two starters in the circle, holding a 3-8 record with an 11.19 ERA after throwing 60.1 innings this year. Maddie Orcutt is the other starting pitcher for Cornell, holding a 3-8 record with a team-leading 9.93 ERA with seven complete games while striking out 40 batters in 70.2 innings of work.
ON DECK
With the 10-game road trip completed, the Lions will head back to New York to play 10 of their final 12 games at home at the Columbia Softball Stadium, starting with a doubleheader against Manhattan on April 20.
