LOS ANGELES — Loyola Marymount plated nine runs on 11 hits to defeat the Columbia softball team, 9-1, in six innings Monday afternoon at Smith Field.
 
Columbia (2-12) got eight hits in the game but stranded seven on base. The Lions' only run came in the second inning, when graduate Maria Pagane smacked an RBI double to the right-center field gap, scoring Jaden Hill who led off the inning with a double.
 
LMU (19-10) led 2-1 at the time of Pagane's run-scoring hit and used a four-run bottom half to increase the lead to 6-1. All four runs came with two outs, three of which were unearned thanks to a two-out error at second base.
 
Starting pitcher Kaia McCaul (1-6) lasted an inning and 2/3, allowing six runs, two earned, on four hits and a walk. First-year Jordan Hill went the next 3 1/3 innings and kept the home team at bay up until the sixth, when she was forced to exit after surrendering back-to-back leadoff singles. Hill was replaced by senior Monique Benjamin, but LMU kept the inning going with a single to load the bases. Two batters later, J. Sofowora doubled in two runs to bring the run rule into effect.
 
Columbia was led by junior Bubba Gleaves, who went 3-for-3 at the dish. The Lions left two on base in both the fourth and fifth innings.
 
Columbia returns to New York to prepare for the start of Ivy League season. Its opening series comes this weekend, March 19-20, at Penn (2-13). The teams will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by the series finale on Sunday.

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.