Lions Return To The Big Apple For Wednesday Showdown With Manhattan
4/18/2016 2:16:00 PM | Softball
After 10-straight games on the road, the Columbia softball team (11-26, 4-8 Ivy) will return home to the Big Apple this week for a Wednesday doubleheader against local foe, Manhattan (18-14, 4-4 MAAC), on April 20 with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
HOME SWEET HOME
Following their 10 games on the road, the Lions will remain at home in New York City for the next eight games and 10 of the final 12 with the only road trip coming on April 29 as part of a home-and-home with Penn. This year, the Columbia offense has been strong at home as seven different Lions head into Wednesday's matchup batting at least .300 at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
WATCH OUT FOR WU
Junior southpaw Tonia Wu has been dominant at home in the circle for the Lions, posting up a 3-0 record with a 1.54 ERA after making four appearances. Through 27.1 innings of work, Wu has struck out 17 batters and has thrown three complete games for the Lions while holding opponents to a .278 batting average.
SOMETHING IS COOKING
Junior Kerry Cook has been firing on all cylinders as of late, leading the team with a .455 batting average over her last six games while adding seven RBI for a .520 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage. In Saturday's south division opener with Cornell, the junior first-basemen went 6-for-8 with seven RBI, a double, a home run, a walk and a pair of runs scored while picking up six of those seven RBI in game two against the Big Red.
SERIES HISTORY
Columbia heads into Wednesday's doubelheader with a 12-14-0 all-time record against the Jaspers in a series that dates back to 2000. In last year's meeting, the teams split the twinbill with Manhattan winning game one, 5-1, and Columbia taking game two, 3-1.
A QUICK LOOK AT MANHATTAN
Manhattan heads into the mid-week doiubleheader with an 18-4 overall record and 4-4 conference mark after falling in four of its last five contests. Leading the way for the Jaspers is Elena Bowman who holds a .376 batting average, .694 slugging percentage and .538 on-base percentage after hitting three doubles and eight home runs while adding 23 RBI, 27 walks and four hit-by-pitches while only striking out eight times in 32 games played. In the circle, the Jaspers have relied on a duo of starters in Briana Matazinsky (6-5, 3.65 ERA, 71.0 IP, 49 K) and Stephanie Kristo (5-5, 3.96 ERA, 63.2 IP, 34 K) who combine for 12 complete games.
ON DECK
The Lions will continue Ivy League South Division action this weekend as they welcome Princeton to the Columbia Softball Stadium for a pair of doubleheaders on April 23-24.
