Columbia
Princeton
Lions Split With Princeton In Alumnae Day Doubleheader
4/23/2016 9:24:00 AM | Softball
G1 Box Score (PDF) | G2 Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Season Stats (HTML) | Ivy League Only Stats (PDF)After taking a 4-1 victory over the Tigers in game one, the Lions were able to rally for three runs in the bottom of the seventh of game two but fell short as they fell to Princeton, 6-3, to force a split.
GAME ONE RECAP: Columbia 4, Princeton 1
The Columbia offense wasted no time as Kerry Cook sent the first pitch she saw down the right-field line to lead off the bottom of the first. With the help of a Princeton error on a Reilly Metzger sac bunt and a pair of ground balls, the Lions were able to put across two runs to take the early 2-0 advantage.
While Princeton threatened with a pair of base runners in the top of the third, Tonia Wu was able to get a pair of strikes to end the threat before the Lions answered with another run on a RBI single by Taylor Troutt to make it a 3-0 game heading into the fourth.
Unfortunately the Tigers responded in the top of the fourth as Kaylee Grant led off the inning with a solo shot to left-center to cut the Columbia lead to 3-1.
The Lions answered back immediately in the bottom half of the frame as Bonnie Schipper blasted a one-out home run of her own straight over the left-field wall to make it a 4-1 ball game.
With Metzger on first, Taylor Troutt was able to send a double up the middle and into the right-center gap, but the Tigers were able to relay the ball in and cut Metzger down at the plate to keep it a 4-1 game heading into the sixth.
Although Princeton was able to threaten with a pair of runners with one out in the top of the sixth, Wu was able to work back-to-back infield popups to end the inning and hold on to a three-run lead.
From there Wu (7-8) was able to hold the Tigers at bay as she went on to seal the 4-1 victory, finishing the game with four strikeouts after giving up only one run on seven hits. Shanna Christian (2-9) took the loss after throwing 6.0 innings, giving up three earned runs on seven hits.
Reilly Metzger and Taylor Troutt each went 2-for-3 on the day while Kerry Cook, Bonnie Schipper and Maura Lynch added the other three hits for the Lions.
GAME TWO RECAP: Princeton 6, Columbia 3
Senior Tessa Kroll came out firing out of the gate for the Lions in game two, striking out her first two batters before working a routine grounder to third to retire the Tigers in order in the top of the first.
Unfortunately the Tigers responded in the second as Kaylee Grant sent a two-run home run over the right-center wall to give Princeton the early 2-0 advantage.
Despite giving up a base hit to Bonnie Schipper in the bottom of the second, the Tigers were able to hold the Columbia offense at bay while adding two more runs in the fifth to take a 4-0 lead.
While Taylor Troutt was able to pick up the team's second hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions were unable to pick up a run as the Tigers plated another run across in both the sixth and the seventh to make it a 6-0 ball game heading into the bottom of the seventh.
Down to its final three outs, the Lions began to rally as Alexandra Yule and Bonnie Schipper teamed up for back-to-back hits to open up the frame.
With two on and nobody out, Maura Lynch was able to step to the plate and blast a three-run shot over the left-center fence, cutting the Princeton lead to 6-3.
Unfortunately after a single up the middle by Krystin Wong, the Tigers were able to roll and double play before eventually getting the final out to seal a 6-3 victory.
Ashley La Guardia (7-7) earned the win after throwing a complete game, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out three. Tessa Kroll (4-14) took the loss after 5.0 innings of work, allowing four runs on six hits while Maura Lynch threw 2.0 innings of relief, giving up two runs on four hits.
Rookie Bonnie Schipper went 2-for-3 with for the Lions while Lynch led the way with three RBI after her three-runs hot.
The Lions will round out the weekend matchup with Princeton on Sunday, April 24, with a doubleheader beginning at 12:30 p.m.
