Townsend Hits Walk-Off As Lions Split With Manhattan

Wednesday, April 20

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

3:00 PM

Columbia

Manhattan

Townsend Hits Walk-Off As Lions Split With Manhattan

4/19/2016 11:13:00 PM | Softball

By: Columbia University Athletics

Manhattan

Columbia

Manhattan

Columbia

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Wong Goes Opposite Way

NEW YORK – A three-run walk-off home run by Jordan Townsend in the bottom of the 10th inning of game one was the highlight of the day as the Columbia softball team (12-27, 4-8 Ivy) split its mid-week doubleheader with Manhattan (19-15) on Wednesday afternoon.

GAME ONE RECAP: Columbia 3, Manhattan 0 (10 inn.)

After both teams went down in order to start the game in the first, it was Taylor Troutt who would put the first hit of the game on the board as she sent a 1-1 pitch into left field for a base hit to lead off the bottom of the second before the Jaspers eventually got out of the inning unscathed.

With the game still scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions looked as if they were about to rally was Kerry Cook sent her first pitch into right-center for a base hit and Reilly Metzger was able to move her into scoring position with a sac bunt. Despite an intentional walk to Troutt and a Jordan Townsend infield single, however, the Lions were unable to plate a run as the Jaspers got out of the inning, stranding the bases loaded to keep the game at 0-0.

While Manhattan was able to load the bases in each of the next two innings, it was Maura Lynch who was able to remain calm in the circle and get the Lions out of the inning unscathed.

After Lynch was able to retire the Jaspers in order in the top of the 10th with a trio of ground balls, Maddie Gott was able to battle through a seven-pitch at bat to work a leadoff walk to open the frame. With the help of a Taylor Troutt base hit up the middle to put two on, rookie third-baseman Jordan Townsend was able to step to the plate and blast a 2-0 pitch over the left-center wall, ending the game to give Columbia the 3-0 walk-off victory.

Troutt finished the game batting 4-for-4 with a walk and a run scored while Townsend went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored. Kerry Cook picked up the team's only other hit in the game while Bonnie Schipper was able to work a pair of walks.

Lynch (1-0) earned the win after throwing 5.0 innings of shutout relief, allowing only two hits while Tonia Wu went 5.0 innings in the start, giving up only one hit while striking out four. Erin Hamm (4-2) took the loss after coming in to pitch in the 10th inning for the Jaspers while Briana Matazinsky threw 9.0 innings of shutout ball in the start, allowing five hits while striking out six.

GAME TWO RECAP: Manhattan 15, Columbia 4 (5 inn.)

Unfortunately the Jaspers responded back immediately in game two as they opened up the game with five runs in the opening frame, including a three-run home run by Lauren Pitney, to take the early 5-0 advantage.

After Manhattan was able to put across three more runs in the top of the third, it was Maura Lynch who was able to get the Columbia offense going in the bottom half of the third with a base hit down the left-field line. With the help of a one-out hit by Kerry Cook, Reilly Metzger was able to send a RBI single into center to put the Lions on the board.

Following a mound visit by the Jaspers, Maddie Gott was able to keep the offense going as she sent a two-strike base hit to center to load the bases and force a Manhattan pitching change. The momentum continued for the Lions with the new arm as Taylor Troutt took a hit-by-pitch to plate a run before Jordan Townsend sent a sac fly to center to cap a three-run inning for the Lions, cutting the Manhattan lead to 8-3.

Despite another run in the bottom of the fifth on a Jordan Townsend RBI single, the Lions were unable to come back as Manhattan put across four more in the fourth and three in the fifth to take a 15-4 five-inning victory.

Danielle Gabriel (3-3) earned the win after throwing 2.2 innings of relief, allowing only one run on three hits while striking out one. Anna Crowley got the start for the Jaspers, giving up three runs on four hits in 2.1 innings of work while striking out a pair. Tessa Kroll (4-13) took the loss after allowing 11 earned runs in 5.0 innings of action while striking out three along the way.

The Lions will return to action this weekend as they welcome Ivy League South Division leader, Princeton, to the Columbia Softball Stadium for a pair of doubleheaders on April 23-24.