NEW YORK – Sophomore
Maddie Souza drove a two-out two-RBI base hit to right field in the top of the sixth inning to put the Lions in front for the first time Wednesday afternoon. The Lions would hold on to the 4-2 lead over Fairfield to complete the comeback.
Columbia improves to 11-18 overall on the season with the win. The Lions are 6-6 in Ivy League play this season as they prepare for a series against Penn this weekend.
Fairfield took the lead in the top of the first inning and held the lead heading into the bottom of the sixth frame. The Stags used two hits to plate two runs in the first frame.
The Lions responded with a run in the bottom of the first inning to cut the Fairfield lead in half. Sophomore
Cami Neal sent a solo shot over the left field wall to put Columbia on the board. The homer marks Neal's second of the season.
After an action-packed first inning, Columbia and Fairfield traded four scoreless innings before the Lions put up a three-spot in the bottom of the sixth.
Neal got the sixth inning started with a base hit. Senior
Kat LoVerde came in for Neal as the pinch runner at first base. First-year
Eleni Katsivalis stepped up to the plate next and lined a single up the middle. Senior
Bubba Gleaves then hit the third-straight single of the inning to put three Lions on base with no outs.
Later in the frame, sophomore catcher
Caroline Palys drew a bases loaded walk with two outs to bring the tying run home. Souza came to the plate next and lined the two-RBI single to right field to score Katsivalis and Gleaves, giving Columbia the 4-2 lead. Souza was thrown out on an attempt to advance to second to end the inning.
"I had been seeing the ball pretty well, so I figured I just needed to get a base hit," Souza said. "I trusted my teammates out there. I knew if I wasn't successful, they would have my back. We have been working very hard and we are excited for this weekend. We are very happy with this W."
Fairfield attempted to rally in the top of the seventh as the Stags put two runners on with one out. First-year left-hander
Charlotte Laidler worked through the jam to leave the bases loaded and secure her first win of the season and her first career win as a Lion.
Laidler (1-0) fired 2.0 innings and recorded one strikeout. She allowed three hits, but no runs. Sophomore right-hander
Jordan Hill got the start and tossed 5.0 innings. She allowed two runs on five hits.
UP NEXT
Columbia welcomes Penn to New York City this weekend for another Ivy League series. The Lions and Quakers will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m. The series will conclude with a 12:30 p.m. game Sunday.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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