Columbia
Cornell
Strong Second Game Leads Lions To Split At Cornell
4/16/2016 9:22:00 AM | Softball
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The Lions saw seven different batters get hits while three of them picked up home runs in the game. Along with the three home runs in game two, Maddie Gott was able to hit a long ball in game one as the Lions combined for four home runs in the division-opening twinbill. Kerry Cook led the way after going 6-for-8 with seven RBI and a pair of runs scored for the Lions.
GAME ONE RECAP: Cornell 8, Columbia 2
The Lions wasted no time as they got on the board in the top of the first after Maddie Gott was able to blast a two-out solo home run over the right-center wall to put Columbia on the board first, 1-0.
Cornell responded back in the bottom half of the frame, however, posting up three runs on three hits to take a 3-1 lead into the second.
With the help of a leadoff single by Alexandra Yule and a Cornell error, the Columbia offense was able to put across another run as Kerry Cook ripped a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Yule and cut the Big Red lead to 3-2.
After Tonia Wu was able to sit down the Cornell offense in order in the bottom of the third, the Big Red came alive in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of home runs by Tori Togashi and Jessica Bigbie to give Cornell a 6-2 advantage heading into the fifth.
Unfortunately the Big Red was able to plate two more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Olivia May sent a two-run shot out to left to lead Cornell to its eventual 8-2 victory.
Meg Parker (4-8) earned the win after throwing a complete game, giving up one earned run on five hits while striking out six. Tonia Wu (5-8) takes the loss for the Lions after giving up eight runs on nine hits while striking out a pair in 5.1 innings of work.
Kerry Cook led the Columbia offense after going 2-for-3 with a walk and picked up a two-out double in the top of the seventh.
GAME TWO RECAP: Columbia 11, Cornell 4
The Columbia offense began its attack right out of the gate as Kerry Cook ripped her first pitch into left and quickly moved to second on a sac bunt by Reilly Metzger. With the help of a base hit by Maddie Gott to put runners on the corners, Taylor Troutt was able to blast a two-RBI double into left-center to put Columbia on the board first, 2-0.
The Lions continued that momentum in the top of the second as Alexandra Yule led things off with a double into left-center. With Olivia Parker in to pinch run and a six-pitch walk to Bonnie Schipper, Maura Lynch was able to move both runners into scoring position before Kerry Cook could score them both on a two-out, two-RBI single into left to make it a 4-0 Columbia lead.
Cornell responded in the bottom of the second, however, plating its first run of the game with a RBI double by Olivia May to cut the Columbia lead to 4-1 before Tessa Kroll could get out of the inning with a liner to second.
The Big Red continued its attack in the bottom of third as it plated two more runs on a two-RBI double by Leanne Iannucci, bringing it to a one-run game heading into the fourth.
It was Maura Lynch who answered for the Lions in the top of the fourth, sending a solo home run over the left-center wall to extend the Columbia's lead out to 5-3.
The Lions were able to take advantage of a couple of Cornell mistakes in the top of the as they added another run with a wild pitch, passed ball and a Big Red error to make it a 6-3 game.
In the bottom of the fifth, Cornell responded as Meg Parker was able to open the inning with a leadoff hit up the middle before working her way around the bases to score on a wild pitch, cutting the Columbia lead to 6-4 heading into the sixth.
After a one-out walk to Maura Lynch, Krystin Wong blasted a double over the bag at third and down the left-field line before Kerry Cook could send a three-run home run over the right-center wall to return to the Columbia lead to 9-4.
The Lions weren't done scoring there as Bonnie Schipper walked up to the plate in the top of the seventh and hammered a solo blast down the left-field line to spark a rally as Cook then ripped added a RBI single to make it an 11-4 ballgame.
From there, senior Tessa Kroll was able to shut down the Big Red offense as she sat them in order to end the game and seal the game-two victory.
Kroll (4-11) earned the win after throwing all seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out three. Maddie Orcutt (3-9) took the loss after 4.0 innings of work, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out three.
Kerry Cook led the Lions in game two, going 4-for-5 with six RBI and a pair of runs scored while Maddie Gott went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.
The Lions will round out the weekend with another doubleheader on Sunday, April 17, starting at 12:30 p.m.
