NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team used a strong performance from starting pitcher Madison Canby and three-RBI efforts from Max Ortega and Abby Stuart to post a 10-2 victory in six innings over Wagner. The Lions improved to 20-17 on the year and have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2013-14.
The Seahawks (13-27) jumped in front 1-0 after a leadoff single from Karen Prihoda, who scored after stealing second and the throw hitting her and landing in leftfield. However, Columbia struck back with two in the bottom of the frame, tying the game on an Ortega sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, with runners on the corners, Abby Stuart lined out to short for the second out. The shortstop attempted to catch Lauren Apollaro off the bag at first, but her throw was wild allowing the go-ahead run to score.
After a solo homer by Wagner's Kaila Smith to start the second made it 2-2, Canby settled in and retired nine of the next 11 hitters in order. Meanwhile, the Lions' began to click on offense.
In the bottom of the third, Hailey Wetherill and Ortega posted base-hits, setting the stage for Stuart. The first-year belted a 1-1 pitch over the wall in center for her sixth homer of the year and gave Columbia a 5-2 cushion. Columbia added runs in the fourth, on a Maria Pagane sacrifice fly, and RBI knock from Alexandra Yule in the fifth before putting the game away in the sixth.
Amanda Nishihira started things off with a hit and scored after a bunt and triple from Pagane. Wetherhill slapped a ball to the Wagner shortstop, who opted to throw back to third, but Pagane slid in safe to put runners on first and third. Wetherhill stole second to break up the force play and Ortega ended things with Columbia's second triple of the frame.
Canby surrendered just one earned run on four hits with seven strikeouts over six frames to improve to 8-7 on the year.
Pagane was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and Wetherill was 2-for-4 and scored three times.
For Wagner, Ciera Luna was charged with the loss (2-7), allowing four earned runs on five hits in three innings.
The Lions are back in action for a three-game set against Penn, April 27-28. The series will begin with a doubleheader Saturday with game one set for a 12:30 p.m. start. Catch all the action on ESPN+.
