WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Four errors proved costly, as the Columbia softball team dropped a non-conference game against Monmouth, 5-4, Wednesday afternoon at MU Softball Park.

Columbia (17-17) allowed unearned runs in the first and sixth innings. Monmouth (18-13) took advantage of two sixth-inning errors to tie the game, 4-4, before walking off on a two-out double to left-center by Amber Wozniak.

Madison Canby (9-8) was dealt the tough-luck loss. She tossed her seventh complete game of the season and allowed only three earned runs on seven hits while striking out six. Amanda Riley (11-5) took the win for Monmouth, also going the distance and striking out nine Lions.

The Columbia offense was led by senior Madison Gott, who went 2 for 4 with a run and her Ivy League-leading fifth triple of the season. First-year Maria Pagane was 1 for 3 with two RBIs to go with her first career triple. Senior Taylor Troutt worked a walk to extend her on-base streak to 22 consecutive games.

Wozniak was catalyst for the Hawks, going 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs, including the game-winning double in the seventh. Chloe Howerth was 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs.  

Monmouth struck first with an unearned run in its first turn at-bat. Kayla Rosado reached on a 2-out error at short to extend the inning for the Hawks, and Wozniak made the Lions pay with a double the clipped the left-field line. Canby stranded two in scoring position to limit the home team to just the one run.

Columbia got it right back in the second. Taylor Troutt and Alexandra Yule worked a pair of walks to put two on with one out for Nishihira, who collected her 18th run batted in of the season on a single over the head of pitcher Amanda Riley. The Lions had an opportunity to take the lead after Olivia Parker beat out an infield single down the third-base line to load the bases, but Riley got Pagane and Swinarski down swinging to keep it a tie game.

The back-and-forth action continued as Monmouth scored two in the bottom half to retake the lead. Canby struck out her second of the day to begin the inning, but a pair of walks got her in trouble. Howerth stepped up with two down and ripped a ball by Pagane at short that rolled into left-center field and scored both walks, putting the Hawks ahead, 3-1.

Canby settled in, striking out her fourth and fifth batters of the afternoon in a scoreless third. She went on to retire the next seven Hawks in order through the fourth and fifth innings.

Columbia rewarded its starter in the fourth. Yule worked her second walk of the day and Olivia Parker reached on a two-out error to bring Maria Pagane to the dish. The rookie took advantage of the mistake by driving a triple to right that hit off the foul line and scored the tying runs. It marked her 20th and 21st RBIs of the season.

The Lions took their first lead of the game in the fifth. Madison Gott led off the inning with her 181st career hit, third-most in program history, and advanced to second on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Sommer Grzybek. Rookie Max Ortega drove in the go-ahead run with an all-important two-out RBI. She lined a single to right that Jasmine Higa came up with quickly. Higa tried to throw out Gott at the plate, but the senior dove in just ahead of the throw to put Columbia in front, 4-3.

Unfortunately, Columbia's errors caught up to them, surrendering an unearned run on two errors in the sixth to allow Monmouth to tie the game. Alex Holzman led off the inning by reaching on a dropped fly ball in left. She then went for a steal of third during the next at-bat and wound up scoring as Alex Yule's throw hit off the helmet of the batter, Jasmine Higa, and trickled down the left-field line.

The Lions went down in order in the seventh, giving Monmouth the opportunity to walk off in the bottom half with its 10th consecutive victory.

Columbia hosts a pivotal Ivy League series this weekend against Princeton. The Lions will hold their Hit-A-Thon on Saturday. Senior Day is set for Sunday.