ORLANDO, Fla. – Columbia lost both games in Saturday's doubleheader on the second day of the UCF Knight's Classic. The Lions lost the first game of the day to Gardner-
Webb, 10-1. Columbia played a tight game with Louisville until the end when the Cardinals broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning to take an 8-2 win.
"We had a good start to the second game against Louisville," Head Coach
Jennifer Teague said. "I was glad to see the bats come alive early to give us the early lead. We fought down the stretch, but came up short. We will learn from that and get better as the season progresses. I was also proud of our pitchers today. We have a young staff, but they are getting settled in and they are going to pitch some good games for us this season."
GAME 1 VS. GARDNER-WEBB
Gardner-Webb put up a three-spot in the first inning and didn't look back as the Runnin' Bulldogs took a 10-1 win.
The Lions scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning as sophomore
Cami Neal doubled to center to bring junior
Jaden Hill across home plate. Neal set up the play after hitting a leadoff base hit to start the inning.
Hill led the offense with three hits in the game, including two base hits and a double. Neal,
Raquel Reyes, and
Maddie De Leon also registered hits.
First-year right-hander
Sarah Mikami (0-2) got the start on the mound and fired all seven innings as she suffered the loss. Mikami allowed 10 runs on 13 hits. She posted four strikeouts.
GAME 2 VS. LOUISVILLE
Columbia came out swinging in the second game of the doubleheader. Senior
Megan Ryono reached on an error by the shortstop to start the game. Hill and Reyes then reached on back-to-back base hits to right field. Ryono scored on Reyes' single to put the Lions up, 1-0.
Senior
Bubba Gleaves came to the plate with one out and used an RBI single to bring Hill home to give the Lions a. 2-0 early advantage.
The Cardinals responded in the bottom of the second with two runs to tie the game. A leadoff double by Sarah Gordon got the inning started. Another double off the bat of Elana Ornelas allowed a run to score and a runner to advance to third. A sac fly brought the second run across to tie the game.
The game went three innings without a run before the Cardinals put up a six-spot in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead for good. Louisville utilized five hits to score those six runs.
Hill (0-2) was charged with the loss as she fired 5.0 innings. She allowed seven runs on nine hits. Hill totaled three stikeouts in the outing.
Charlotte Laidler also put in one inning of work, allowing one run on one hit.
UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up competition at the Knight's Classic on Sunday. The Lions will play Bradley at 9 a.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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