Columbia University
3-5
Alabama
14-1
Baseball Stuns Undefeated No. 18 Alabama, 10-7
3/11/2023 12:09:00 AM | Baseball
Lions hand Crimson Tide first loss of season
With Columbia holding a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Alabama had the bases loaded and two outs. Justin Tucker got Mac Guscette to fist one into shallow left-center field and shortstop Andy Blake made an incredible catch to reel in the final out and secure the victory. Tucker got the final two outs to earn his first career save.
AMAZING CATCH by @andyblake444 for the final out‼️
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 11, 2023
What. A. Win. 🔥🦁#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/aYD6dNkS6S
The win marked the Lions' first victory over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 14 Gonzaga last season twice in the NCAA Regionals.
Columbia (3-5), the defending Ivy League champions, scored two runs in the second inning, three runs in the fourth, two runs in the fifth, two runs in the seventh and one run in the eighth to take the win over the Crimson Tide (14-1) in the first of three games between the two teams.
Sophomore infielder Anton Lazits walked to start the top of the second inning. Junior infielder Seth Dardar stepped up to the plate and tripled to center, allowing Lazits to score the first run of the game. Dardar then scored on a wild pitch to put the Lions up, 2-0. After taking the lead, the Lions would not look back.
Top 2 | Reigning Ivy League Player of the Week Seth Dardar mashes an RBI triple into the right-center gap, and the Lions take an early 1-0 lead!
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 11, 2023
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📺https://t.co/bFwaxAMjGt#RoarLionsRoar pic.twitter.com/sEFub6aL4h
The Crimson Tide responded with one run in the bottom of the third. A one-out single off the bat of outfielder Tommy Seidl put an Alabama runner on with one out. Seidl moved to second on a wild pitch and scored shortly after on an RBI single.
Columbia tacked on three more runs in the fourth. Dardar walked to start the inning. Sophomore Skye Selinsky singled to left field and sophomore Griffin Palfrey followed with an RBI double down the right field line to bring Dardar home and move Selinsky to third. Selinsky then scored as first-year infielder Jack Kail grounded out to second. Palfrey scored the third run of the inning when senior infielder Andy Blake hit an RBI double to left center to put the Lions up, 5-1.
Top 4 | Andy Blake's hustle double tacks on another run, and the Lions extend their lead to 5-1!
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 11, 2023
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📺https://t.co/bFwaxAMjGt#RoarLionsRoar pic.twitter.com/kxJkLW0eBe
Alabama's Caden Rose answered with a solo home run in the bottom of the frame to trim the Columbia lead to 5-2.
The Lions responded right back with a two-spot in the fifth to further extend the lead. Lazits walked to lead off the inning and he moved to second on a wild pitch. Dardar was then walked to put two Lions on base with no outs. Dardar stole second and moved to third on an error as Lazits stole third and then scored on a throwing error by the catcher. Dardar scored later in the inning on an RBI groundout by Kail to make it 7-2.
Columbia added two more runs in the seventh when Dardar scored on a wild pitch and Selinsky scored on Kail's RBI single. Alabama chipped away at the lead from Hodo's three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.
In the eighth, Hayden Schott smacked his fourth home run of the season to double the lead, 10-5.
Top 8 | Get out the tape measure! Hayden Schott destroys a solo home run to right field, and the Lions make it 10-5.🔥
— Columbia Baseball (@CULionsBaseball) March 11, 2023
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📺https://t.co/bFwaxAMjGt pic.twitter.com/OyWU1U1I79
The Crimson Tide would add a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 10-6. Lions starting pitcher Andy Leon went five innings, gave up six hits and two runs while striking out five.
The series wraps up on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. ET from Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
Hear them ROAR! 🦁
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 11, 2023
Columbia conquers No. 18 Alabama in a 10-7 road win.
Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics #NCAABaseball x 📸 @CULionsBaseball pic.twitter.com/ONXxf0WYej
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on Twitter and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Leon, Andy (2-1)
L: Grayson Hitt (2-1)
S: Tucker, Justin (1)
Batting:
2B: Blake, Andy 1 ; Palfrey, Griffin 1
3B: Dardar, Seth 1
HR: Schott, Hayden 1
RBI: Blake, Andy 1 ; Schott, Hayden 1 ; Dardar, Seth 1 ; Palfrey, Griffin 1 ; Kail, Jack 3
SH: Selinsky, Skye 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Schott, Hayden 1 ; Lazits, Anton 2 ; Dardar, Seth 4 ; Selinsky, Skye 2 ; Palfrey, Griffin 1
SB: Hage, Cole 2 ; Eberly, Weston 1 ; Lazits, Anton 1 ; Dardar, Seth 1
HBP: Palfrey, Griffin 1
Batting:
2B: Colby Shelton 1 ; Drew Williamson 1
3B: Ed Johnson 1
HR: Will Hodo 1 ; Caden Rose 1
RBI: Will Hodo 4 ; Drew Williamson 1 ; Caden Rose 1 ; Ed Johnson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Colby Shelton 2 ; Will Hodo 1 ; Caden Rose 2 ; Ed Johnson 1 ; Tommy Seidl 1
CS: Drew Williamson 1
HBP: Jim Jarvis 1 ; William Hamiter 1
