PHILADELPHIA — Senior Madison Gott hit two game-winning home runs, each in extra innings, and the Columbia softball team combined for seven home runs on the way to a thrilling Ivy League opening day sweep over Penn, 8-6 (8) and 9-7 (8), Saturday afternoon at Penn Park.

Columbia (7-10, 2-0 Ivy) hit four home runs in game one and three more in game two. Gott hit the two biggest as part of a 5-for-9 day at the plate, blasting a two-run shot in the eighth inning of game one and another in the eighth inning of game two to lead the Lions to victory.

"Our offense was locked and loaded, and it carried us today," fourth-year head coach Jennifer Teague said. "We need to clean up some things on the mound and defensively for tomorrow, but I am very proud as always with the fight this team showed."

The Lions entered the seventh inning of game one trailing by three until home runs by first-year Maria Pagane and sophomore Sommer Grzybek tied it up. Again, the Lions trailed late in game two, but a two-run shot by sophomore Amanda Nishihira tied it up. The day also included a solo shot by senior Taylor Troutt and the first collegiate long ball for Max Ortega.

With the wins, Columbia starts Ivy League play 2-0 for the second consecutive season. The Lions also snapped a four-game losing streak against Penn (2-12, 0-2 Ivy), which swept doubleheaders last year in New York and Philadelphia.

Game three of the series is slated for 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Game 1 Recap: Columbia 8 - Penn 6 (F/8)

Columbia's bats exploded late, rallying for three runs on two homers in the seventh to force extra innings before senior Madison Gott put the Lions ahead for good with a two-run homer in the eighth. Senior Maura Lynch shut the door in the bottom half as Columbia took game one, 8-6.

The Lions entered the seventh trailing, 6-3, but got an immediate spark when first-year Maria Pagane homered to cut the lead to two. Gott reached on an error to bring sophomore Sommer Grzybek to bat representing the tying run, and the returning All-Ivy League selection crushed her first home run of the season to deep center to tie the game.

Lynch set Penn down in order in the bottom half to give the Lions a chance in extras and they took full advantage. Senior Olivia Parker singled and was moved over to second by Pagane to bring Gott to the dish with two down. The senior first baseman delivered with her second long ball of the year to put Columbia in front and it proved to be the game-winner.

Lynch (1-2) relieved sophomore starter Madison Canby in the fourth and did not allow a run through the final 4 2-3 innings to earn the win. Canby was solid through the first two, but gave up a three-run homer to Lucy Yang to put Penn ahead 3-0 in the third. An error and a passed ball didn't help her cause in the fourth. She was charged with five earned runs on seven hits, striking out three.

Columbia got on the board in the visiting half of the fourth when senior Taylor Trout took starter Mason Spichiger deep. Spichiger then surrendered two runs in the fifth on a two-run double by Grzybek, which cut the lead to 6-3. Jessica Brann relieved Spichiger for an inning and a third, but Spichiger re-entered after the Lions tied it with the two homers in the seventh. Spichiger (0-4) then gave up the homer to Gott and took the loss.

Grzybek finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Gott was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs to go with her home run. Four Lions went deep in the win.

Madison Gott played hero again, breaking a 7-all tie with a two-run home run in the eighth to give Columbia its second extra-inning victory of the day, 9-7.

Columbia used a four-run third and a three-run sixth to score its seven runs before the extras. First-year Max Ortega hit her first collegiate home run in the third and sophomore Amanda Nishihira hit her second of the season in the sixth to tie the game, 6-6. A wild pitch with the bases loaded scored the go-ahead run.

Penn reached on an error to lead off the seventh and it proved costly. Madison Canby, who relieved starter Erin Gallo in the fifth, got the Quakers down to their final strike, but Jessica England singled home the tying run to force the extra frame.

The Lions wasted little time taking back the lead. Parker walked to begin the inning and Gott sent the first pitch she saw from freshman Abigail Abramson deep to left for what proved to be her second game-winning home run of the day.

Penn put Canby against the ropes in the bottom half by putting runners on second and third with one out. However, the Lions did not surrender any runs, getting Lucy Yang in a rundown between third and home for the second out before Molly Oretsky grounded out to end the ball game. Canby (4-4) earned the victory.

The back-and forth game saw Columbia load the bases in the second. Bonnie Schipper reached on an error, Max Ortega walked and Amanda Nishihira singled to left to bring up Krystin Wong with one out. Penn starter Tabitha Dyer got Wong down swinging and retired the side by getting Olivia Parker to ground out.

Penn loaded the bases themselves with nobody out in the home half. Two Quakers reached base via the hit-by-pitch, and Gallo's control continued to struggle as she walked Sarah Ketring to bring in the first run. Penn went ahead 2-0 on a ground out to first.

Gallo did well to get out of the inning with just the two runs allowed and Columbia backed her up with four in the third to take the lead. Pagane reached and came around to score on a wild pitch to put the Lions on the board, and Schipper tied it on a laser to the gap in right center to bring home Gott. Columbia went in front on first-year Max Ortega's first collegiate home run, crushing a pitch off Dyer to left for a 4-2 lead.