BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Columbia softball team fell in both of its games on Saturday at the FAU Strike Out Cancer Tournament. The Lions were defeated by LIU, 7-2, and dropped a six-inning game to Jacksonville, 12-4.
 
Columbia (1-3) totaled 15 hits on offense but was tagged for 19 runs in the two games combined. Jordan Hill started against LIU (2-10) and tossed four scoreless frames before getting charged for three runs in the fifth. Two of those runners reached on a hit-by-pitch. After the Lions got two runs back in the bottom half, LIU tacked on three more in the sixth to pull away. In game two, Jacksonville (2-11) jumped all over the Lions by scoring seven runs through the first two innings. A three-run sixth put the run rule into effect.
 
"We just came out a little bit flat today," Columbia head coach Jennifer Teague said. "I have all the faith in the world that we will continue to get better. This was a great learning day for us in the circle and at the plate."
 
Bubba Gleaves and Abby Stuart each went 2-for-3 at the plate against the Dolphins. Stuart tagged a two-run homer, her first of the year, to cap a three-run third that cut JU's lead to 7-3.  Cami Neal was 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the sixth.
 
Columbia's two runs against LIU came off the bats of fifth-year Maria Pagane and Gleaves. Pagane beat out an infield single with two in scoring position to bring across the first run. Gleaves later singled to center to drive in the other.  
 
The Lions close out the tournament on Sunday when they take on Michigan State at 10 a.m. ET.

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.