MIAMI — Columbia softball earned its first win of the 2019 season on Saturday at the FIU Panther Invitational, using 13 hits to defeat Monmouth, 10-3. Rutgers handed the Lions their third one-run loss of the weekend in the back end, 3-2.

First-year Abby Stuart put together a four-hit day and tagged her first collegiate home run against Rutgers. All-Ivy returner Sommer Grzybek belted her first two home runs of the season, one in each game, and went 3-for-7 with three runs. Sophomore Max Ortega also had three hits and was one of seven Lions to collect an RBI.

"I thought we had another solid day," head coach Jennifer Teague said. "We definitely got better from day one to day two. I thought our hitters were extremely disciplined at the plate today. Even though we only scored two runs against Rutgers we were putting the ball in play."

First-year pitcher Alexa Pinarski and junior Madison Canby each tossed complete games. Pinarski (1-0) took the win against Monmouth while Canby (0-2) pitched well after shaky first inning against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights did all of their scoring before the first out was recorded but were held at bay the rest of the way.

"Alexa did a great job in the first game to contain a great hitting Monmouth team," Teague added. "We are excited to have a rematch with FIU tomorrow. Three one-run losses are hard to take but we are learning along the way and trusting our process. We are in a good place."

The Lions close out the weekend Sunday morning at 11:15 against FIU. The game can be viewed on C-USA.tv.

Game 1 Recap: Columbia 10 - Monmouth 3

First-year pitcher Alexa Pinarski showcased her ability at the dish and in the circle as Columbia exploded for 10 runs on 13 hits to avenge yesterday's loss to Monmouth, 10-3, to start off Day 2 of the FIU Panther Invitational.

Pinarski (1-0) threw her first complete game, tossing 7.0 strong innings and allowing just three runs on six hits while striking out three. Offensively, she reached base in all three plate appearances, tripling in her first collegiate at-bat as part of a 2-for-2 day with a run and an RBI.

Sophomore Max Ortega and first-year Abby Stuart both went 3-for-4 at the dish. Ortega added an RBI while juniors Sommer Grzybek and Amanda Nishihira launched their first home runs of the year.

Columbia's high-powered offense was sparked by a Grzybek's and Nishihira's homers. Coming off a 2018 season that saw the Lions hit a program-record 48 long balls, Grzybek blasted the first of the year on a one-out solo shot to left center. After Abby Stuart singled, Nishihira came up with two down and sent the first pitch she saw over the fence to increase the lead to 3-0.

The Lions were able to add a run off a two-out error by shortstop Sam Tomasetti in the third. Another two-out error by third baseman Amber Wozniak in the fourth inning brought across Columbia's fifth run of the game. Max Ortega continued her timely hitting and made the Hawks pay for the error by doubling home Amber Swinarski to increase Columbia's lead to 6-0.

Pinarski cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one hit before she got tagged for three runs on four hits in the fifth. The Hawks used four straight hits to start the inning and drove in their first two runs off a Morgan Maziarz double down the left field line. Maziarz was singled home on the next pitch but Pinarski settled down and retired the next three batters to get out of the inning with a three-run lead.

Columbia responded in a big way for Pinarski in the bottom half. Grzybek and Stuart led off the inning with back-to-back singles to set the table for Townsend, who punched one through the right side for her fourth RBI of the weekend. Monmouth went back to the bullpen to reinsert starting pitcher Lilly Robles, but Columbia's big inning continued as Nishihira worked a nine-pitch walk to load the bases and Pinarski followed with a five-pitch walk to earn her first collegiate RBI. The Lions pushed across two more in the four-run inning to head to the sixth leading 10-3.

Pinarski retired six of the final eight batters she faced as Monmouth managed just one hit against the rookie over the final two innings. Robles (0-1) took the loss for Monmouth.

Game 2 Recap: Rutgers 3 - Columbia 2

Columbia hit two solo home runs but a three-run first was enough for Rutgers to hold on, 3-2, in game two of Saturday's doubleheader.

The homers came off the bats of Abby Stuart and Sommer Grzybek, accounting for Columbia's only two hits of the game. However, the Lions continued to put the ball in play but were unable to string together any baserunners.

Rutgers got on the board early with three in the first before every recording its first out. Anyssa Iiopolous doubled in the first two and scored a play later when she stole third and advanced home on a throwing error. Canby shook it off and retired the next three batters in order to get out of the inning.

The Lions answered in the second on first-year Abby Stuart's first collegiate home run, blasting the first pitch she saw from Whitney Jones deep to center. Townsend kept the momentum going by working out an 11-pitch walk but Rutgers retired the side on a lineout by Pinarski.

Canby retired nine straight after Rutgers opened the game with three runs. She worked around a double in the fourth and went the distance, allowing just three hits after the first inning and striking out three.

Sommer Grzybek's second home run of the day made it a one-run game in the fourth. Ortega walked to lead off the sixth which led Rutgers to head to the bullpen for Corah Price. She retired all six batters she faced over the final two innings to earn the save.