NEW YORK — Senior Madison Gott went 3 for 4 and delivered the walk-off hit in the eighth as the Columbia softball team held on to defeat Fairfield in a slugfest, 11-10, Wednesday afternoon in non-conference action at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
Columbia (10-12, 4-2 Ivy) surrendered nine combined runs in the sixth and seventh innings to bring the game to extras. Sophomore Madison Canby retired Fairfield (7-17) in order in the eighth to give the Lions a chance, and they pulled through. First-year Maria Pagane led off the inning with a single and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch to set the table for Gott. The Columbia record holder in career RBIs added to her total, ripping the second pitch of the at-bat down the left-field line to win the game.
Columbia led 8-1 after hitting three home runs in the third inning. Sophomore Sommer Grzybek sent a two-run laser over the fence in left to get it started. Sophomore Amanda Nishihira belted a solo shot to left-center with two down to increase the lead to 6-1, and two batters later junior Krystin Wong launched her first of the year to left-center to complete the five-run inning.
Senior Maura Lynch started in the circle and went four scoreless innings. She was replaced by rookie Madeline Meier to begin the third, but reentered with the bases loaded and nobody out. The River Forest, Illinois, native did well to only allow one of those inherited runners to score.
Lynch's win was spoiled thanks to Fairfield's late rally. Columbia entered the sixth still leading, 8-1, but the Stags scored five runs off sophomore Erin Gallo, all with two outs. Kate Robinson drove in the first two on a bases-loaded single that got through the left side of the infield. The next batter, Drew Westford, hit a three-run homer to trim the lead to two.
Columbia tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom half to go back by four. Gott drove in the first as part of a two-RBI day at the plate by singling with runners on the corners. The Lions later loaded the bases and scored their second run of the inning on a wild pitch.
Fairfield wasn't done. A one-out double put two in scoring position and ended Gallo's day in favor of sophomore Madison Canby. The first batter Canby faced singled and Columbia's defense threw the ball away, plating two runs and cutting the lead in half. Canby got Hannah Futo to foul out for the second out, but another hit by Robinson with two in scoring position completely wiped away what was once a seven-run lead. Columbia threw out Robinson on the play trying to advance to second to get out of the inning tied at 10.
Canby (7-4) went on to earn the win, retiring Fairfield in order in the eighth on seven pitches. She tossed 1 2-3 innings, allowing one earned run on two hits while striking out one.
Columbia jumped on top 3-0 in the first inning with the help of two Fairfield errors. Senior Olivia Parker and senior Taylor Troutt both reached on bobbles in the infield. Troutt's came on a ground ball hit to second with the bases loaded to score the opening tally. Junior Alexandra Yule made it 3-0 with a two-run double to left.
Columbia heads to Dartmouth (8-11, 2-1 Ivy) for a three-game set this Saturday and Sunday. The series begins with a doubleheader at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. The finale is Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
