RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Sophomore Cami Neal hit a two RBI triple down the right field line with two outs in the top of the seventh to put the Lions ahead for the first time all afternoon. Columbia held on to its lead to post a 7-6 win against Manhattan at Gaelic Park Wednesday evening.
 
The come-from-behind win marks the third-straight win for the Lions in the last five days. Columbia improves to 6-11 overall with a 2-1 record in Ivy League play.
 
Manhattan got the scoring started quickly as the Jaspers scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead. The Jaspers would add one run in third, one in the sixth and one in the seventh to finish with six runs on nine hits.
 
Columbia put up a two-spot in the third as junior Hunter Travers hit a one-out single to third base. Sophomore Maddie Souza stepped up next and used a sac bunt to move Travers to second. Senior Megan Ryono then came to the plate with two outs and launched a two-run home run over the left field wall.
 
The home run was the first of the season for Ryono and the fifth of the season for the Lions. Columbia has now hit a home run in three-straight games.
 
"I am really proud of our team going into the seventh and just having the mentality to pass the bat," Ryono said. "It was not one person's job to win that game and we just passed the bat through the seventh inning, so I am really proud of our fight. That momentum will take us into this weekend as we face Yale. All the Ivy games are dogfights and we are really excited going into this weekend coming off this win."
 
Following Ryono's homer, the Columbia offense could not get anything going until the seventh inning. First-year Eleni Katsivalis led off the inning with a base hit to left field. Dani Mandichak then drew a walk to put two runners on with no outs. Sophomore Caroline Palys reached next on a fielder's choice that moved Katsivalis to third as Mandichak got out at second. Palys then stole second to put runners in scoring position with one out.
 
Souza got the scoring started with a ground out to second base that scored Katsivalis and moved Palys to third. Ryono followed with a double to left center that scored Palys. Junior Jaden Hill then came to the plate and singled up the middle to score Ryono and tie the game, 5-5.
 
The two-out rally continued as Columbia took the lead for good. Senior Bubba Gleaves reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop that moved Hill to second. Neal then hit a triple down the right field line that scored Hill and Gleaves to secure the 7-5 lead for the Lions.
 
"I felt like I had this pitcher," Neal said. "I had two hits that were just straight to people and my coach told me 'Hit it where they are not,' and I took that to heart. When we got up in the seventh inning and we were feeling good and had a rally going, I was excited to hit again. I felt it in my bones that I was going to do it and I did. I am very proud of my team for getting me to that point."
 
Manhattan attempted a rally of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning. A one-out solo shot pulled the Jaspers within one, but sophomore right-hander Jordan Hill was able to get a strikeout and a fly out to end the game and preserve the Columbia win.
 
Jordan Hill (4-6) earned the win as she came in with one out in the first inning and pitched the rest of the game, going 6.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. She totaled four strikeouts. Mikami got the start in the circle and allowed three runs on three hits.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Lions will jump back into Ivy League play this weekend with a series at Yale. Due to forecasted rain in New Haven, the teams will play a doubleheader Friday starting at 12:30 p.m. Sunday's game at 12:30 p.m. is still set to be played as originally scheduled.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
 
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