BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Columbia softball team played its first two games since March of 2020 on Friday and earned its first win of the season to boot, as the Lions closed out the day with a thrilling, 7-5, extra-inning victory over Florida Atlantic at the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament.
 
After FAU (5-8) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings, Columbia (1-1) picked itself up and answered with three in the top of the eighth to eventually earn the victory. Senior Lauren Apollaro had the big hit, smacking a two-out, two-run single to center to cap the three-run inning. Kaia McCaul, working in relief, stranded the bases loaded in the bottom half to close things out.
 
"We were just full of energy and excitement and this team didn't take a moment for granted today," Columbia softball head coach Jennifer Teague said. "They were ultimate teammates and got to be back in their happy place, playing softball. After two years, it meant the world to them and meant the world to me."
 
Columbia (1-1) jumped ahead of FAU (5-8) in the third as senior Abby Stuart drove in the first run of the season by beating out a high chopper to shortstop. Junior Dani Mandichak walked home a run to put the Lions on top, 2-0.
 
The Owls got on the board in the bottom half but were held in check most of the game by sophomore Raquel Reyes. Earning the start in her collegiate debut, Reyes allowed just one run through the first six innings before ultimately being charged with three runs on five hits. She struck out five in her six-plus innings and even worked around seven walks before getting pulled in the seventh.
 
Columbia gave Reyes some insurance in the sixth and seventh. First-year Cami Neal came through in her first collegiate at-bat, smacking a pinch-hit RBI single back up the middle to make it 3-1. In the seventh, junior Bubba Gleaves doubled to the left-center field gap, driving home Jaden Hill to increase the lead to 4-1.
 
"It was even more electrifying as we got later into the game," Teague added. "They fed off of each other's energy. It was awesome."
 
FAU answered with three runs in the seventh to tie things up. Junior Kaia McCaul came on after the Owls leveled the score and got the Lions to extras. With the winning run on second, McCaul struck out the next batter and got Peluso to fly out to left to retire the side.
 
The Lions would not be denied the win. Stuart scored on a wild pitch with two out in the eighth and it opened the floodgates. Megan Ryono set the table with a double to center that put two in scoring position for Lauren Apollaro, who drove in the pair with a single to center.
 
Things got exciting again in the bottom of the eighth as the Owls plated a run and loaded the bases, but McCaul got the job done and was credited with her first win of the season.
 
The victory came after the Lions opened with a five-inning, 8-0, loss to No. 12 Kentucky. Despite the result, Teague was proud of the effort the Lions showed against the SEC powerhouse.
 
"The name of the game right now is growing up and maturing quickly," said the 2019 Ivy League Coach of the Year. "And that's across the board, the whole Ivy League. I'm extremely pleased with our pitching staff and I thought we saw some really awesome performances today."
 
Columbia mustered four hits off the 2021 Super Regional participants. Kentucky scored four runs in the first inning, three of which came with two outs, and tacked on two more in both the third and fifth.
 
The Lions begin Day 2 of their five-game tournament on Saturday when they take on LIU at 11:30 a.m. They'll then face Jacksonville at around 2 p.m.

For the latest on the Columbia softball program, follow @CULionsSoftball on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook at Facebook.com/CULionsSoftball. You can view all the latest with the Lions on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com/Softball.