NEW YORK – First-year Sarah Mikami launched a two-out, two-run walk-off home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning of a tied ballgame to clinch the series win over Brown on Sunday afternoon at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
 
After losing the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Columbia (5-11, 2-1) won back-to-back games to bounce back and win the first Ivy League series of the season against Brown (3-11, 1-2).
 
Entering the weekend, first-year Georgia Corey was the only Lion to hit a home run for the season. Columbia found its power hitting this weekend though as three separate players hit home runs – junior Jaden Hill, sophomore Caroline Palys and Mikami. Mikami's walk-off homer marked the first multi-run homer of the season as the other three were solo shots.
 
"Everyone was on their game today," Mikami said. "We really wanted this win. It's the first series, so we all just wanted to get after it, especially after the first game. We wanted to take it to the opponent and get the win. Coming up in the bottom of the seventh is scary, but I turned to my coach right before the at-bat and said 'I am just not going to think.' So, I basically just went up there swinging and the outcome worked in my favor."
 
The Lions found themselves trailing or tied all game until the end. Brown struck quickly with a run in the top of the first inning. Columbia responded with a run to tie the game as sophomore Cami Neal hit a two-out RBI base hit to center that scored senior Megan Ryono from third base.
 
Brown answered back with a two-spot in the top of the second inning to reclaim the lead. Ryono had a RBI single of her own in the bottom of the second as she singled to left field to score senior Dani Mandichak from third base. The Lions brought one run across home plate in the frame to cut the Brown lead down to one.
 
Columbia tied the game again in the fourth inning as Jaden Hill hit a two-out double to left center to set up the scoring play. Senior Bubba Gleaves followed with a RBI base hit to center that allowed Hill to score as the Lions tied the game, 3-3.
 
The Lions and Bears traded scoreless frames until the bottom of the seventh. After a ground out to start the bottom of the seventh, Palys hit a one-out single to center. First-year Savanna Messner came in as the pinch runner and advanced to second on another ground out. Mikami stepped up as the last chance for the Lions and came through with the two-run shot to seal the win and the series win over Brown.
 
"They like to keep me on my toes," Columbia Head Softball Coach Jennifer Teague said. "The only thing we talked about before the game was to just make sure we find a fire inside of us. We knew whoever was the toughest today in the elements was going to come out on top. It is a much-improved Brown team. Sarah (Mikami) put a good stick on the ball. I am super proud of the team. At one point it was eight hits to two hits and our team just kept fighting and clawing. That's what we need to see from them as we continue to get better through the Ivy League."
 
Junior right-hander Raquel Reyes got the start in the circle as she tossed 1.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. Sophomore right-hander Jordan Hill (3-6) came in to finish off the second inning. She pitched the remaining 5.1 innings and held off the Bears to secure the win. Hill allowed just one hit and one walk as she struck out five in the outing.
 
UP NEXT
 
Columbia travels to nearby Manhattan College for a midweek matchup Wednesday afternoon. First pitch at Manhattan is slated for 4 p.m.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
 
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