NEW YORK — The Columbia softball team played its first game on its home turf in nearly three years on Wednesday, but they surrendered a one-run lead and Iona scored the go-ahead run in the seventh to defeat the Lions, 2-1.
 
The Lions (4-14, 2-1 Ivy) hadn't played at the Columbia Softball Stadium since May 4, 2019. Two years, 10 months, 19 days and a global pandemic later, they stepped back onto their refurbished field on a cool, comfortable and overcast day in New York City. For all but four players on the current roster — Maria Pagane, Monique Benjamin, Abby Stuart and Lauren Apollaro — the game was their first in front of the home crowd.
 
Columbia struck first on Maddie Souza's one-out RBI single in the fourth, which scored Bubba Gleaves from third. Iona (6-12) answered in its next turn at-bat with an unearned run. Despite the error, starting pitcher Raquel Reyes did well to only allow the one tally, retiring the final three batters after the Gaels put two in scoring position with nobody out.
 
The Lions had a chance to take the lead in the sixth. Maria Pagane walked and Jaden Hill singled to set the table with nobody out. Iona's Maddy Lowry struck out the next two batters before walking Megan Ryono to load the bases. Lowry got first-year Maddie Souza to ground out to extinguish the threat.
 
Reyes allowed just the one run through six innings of work. After the Gaels started to time up her pitches in the fifth and sixth, head coach Jennifer Teague went to the bullpen and first-year Jordan Hill for the seventh. Hill hit a batter and walked another to put two on base. She was one out away from getting out of the inning, but a hard hit ball to third popped out of the glove of Gleaves and went scurrying down the line, scoring the go-ahead run from second to bring the game to its eventual final.

The Lions went down in order in the home half.
 
Jaden Hill went 2-for-3 at the plate in the loss. She, Souza, Pagane, Abby Stuart and Lauren Apollaro all collected at least one hit on the day.
 
For Iona, Morgan Ritchey went 2-for-3 with a run scored and Allie Taylor was also 2-for-3 with an RBI. Lowry (2-1) earned the win, going three innings in relief, allowing just a hit and two walks while striking out four.
 
Columbia resumes Ivy League play this weekend at Cornell (3-9, 0-0 Ivy). The series has been moved to Friday-Saturday, with a doubleheader set for Friday beginning at 1 p.m. ET. The series finale will be played Saturday at 12:30 p.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.