FULLERTON, Calif. – Coming off a loss to South Dakota in the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, the Lions rebounded with a 5-1 win over Sacramento State in the second game behind a complete game performance by Columbia pitcher Jordan Hill.
 
"We had a rough start in our first game, but settled in after that," Columbia Head Coach Jennifer Teague said. "I think we took that momentum into the second game and just focused on being better every pitch and every at bat. I thought Jordan did a fantastic job on the mound and Beth (Krysiak) called a really great game. It was a great team effort to rebound in the second game."
 
GAME 1 – VS. SOUTH DAKOTA
 
The Coyotes struck first in top of the first inning with four runs to take a lead they would not give back the rest of the game. South Dakota added a three-spot in the second and one more run in the seventh to total eight runs scored on 12 hits.
 
The Lions had five hits total with third baseman Bubba Gleaves and left fielder Cami Neal each responsible for two hits.
 
Gleaves hit a two-out double to left center in the bottom of the first to get something going for Columbia. Neal followed at the plate with an RBI base hit up the middle that scored Gleaves for the Lions' only run of the afternoon.
 
Raquel Reyes (0-2) was charged with the loss in 1.1 innings of work. She allowed seven earned runs on six hits. She walked three and struck out two.
 
Jordan Hill and Charlotte Laidler also made appearances in the circle. Hill tossed 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Laidler fired 2.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits.
 
GAME 2 – VS. SACRAMENTO STATE
 
It took two full innings before Sacramento State scored the first run of the game in the top of the third. That would be the only run of the inning as Hill settled in and didn't allow any more runs the rest of the day.
 
Columbia put up three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead. Megan Ryono got the inning started with a base hit to second. Jaden Hill then singled to shortstop and Gleaves singled to right to load the bases with no outs. Neal reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Ryono to score an unearned run on a fielding error by the shortstop. Later in the frame, Savannah Messner hit an RBI single that scored Neal and Gleaves to put the Lions up, 3-1.
 
The Lions added two more runs in the sixth to finish off Sunday's win. Gleaves reached on a throwing error to start the inning and Neal hit a base hit down the right field line to put two Lions on with no outs. A ground out put Neal at second and Gleaves at third with one out. Messner and Hunter Travers then hit back-to-back RBI singles to score Neal and Gleaves, giving Columbia a 5-1 lead.
 
Sophomore right-hander Jordan Hill rolled through the Sacramento State lineup in the top of the seventh to induce three-straight ground outs to finish off the win and the complete game performance. This marked Hill's first complete game of the 2023 season and the ninth of her Columbia career.
 
"I had a great defense behind me," Jordan Hill said. "Hunter (Travers) did an amazing job behind the plate and we were able to just pull through the whole game."
 
Jordan Hill (2-4) earned the win, allowing one run scored on seven hits. She struck out four in the outing. On the day, Hill tossed 10.2 total innings and recorded seven strikeouts. She finished the day with a 0.66 ERA between both games.
 
Neal and Gleaves led offensively with three hits each. Both finished three-for-six at the plate in the doubleheader. Gleaves had one double and three runs. Neal had two runs and an RBI. The first-year Messner was two-for-four in the doubleheader with two RBI.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Lions wrap up the California trip with a doubleheader at California Riverside on Monday. The first game is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET with the second game following at 6:30 p.m. ET.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
 
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