BROOKLYN, N.Y. —  Six LIU Brooklyn runs in the fifth inning turned a close games on its head, as the Columbia softball team was defeated, 8-0, by the Blackbirds on a brisk Wednesday afternoon at LIU Field.

Columbia (10-11) was limited to just one hit, a leadoff double by senior Jordan Townsend in the fifth. Elena Valenzuela (9-3) allowed only two other Lions to reach base on walks to take the shortened complete-game victory.

The Lions used the midweek game to throw multiple pitchers. Junior Erin Gallo got the start and pitched two scoreless frames. First-year Alexa Pinarski allowed two runs, one earned, over the next two innings. She worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the third after the first four Blackbirds reached base with an inning-ending 6-2-3 double play. She also stranded two on base to keep it a 2-0 game entering the fifth.

LIU Brooklyn (16-12) got to fifth-inning starter Madeline Meier for five runs on three hits and two walks. Columbia also committed two errors in the inning that led to further damage. First-year Monique Benjamin entered with LIU leading 6-0 and got the first two batters she faced to ground out. However, the next three Blackbirds to step to the plate all singled, including Schae Dickson's single back through the middle that scored Patrica Griffin and ended the game in five innings.

Griffin finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Blackbirds. Camryn Lyman, Alina Castillo and Alyssa Martinez also posted multi-hit games. Castillo and Martinez each drove in a pair.

Townsend's fifth-inning double made her 1-for-2 on the day. It marked the second baseman's 10th game in her last 11 with a hit. First-year Abby Stuart and junior Amanda Nishihira each reached on walks.

First-place Columbia (3-0 Ivy) heads to Princeton (2-1 Ivy) this weekend for a three-game set against the Tigers. The series will now take place Friday and Saturday, with a single set for Friday at 3 p.m. and a doubleheader on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. All three games are available on ESPN+.