NEW YORK – Junior catcher
Maddy Rifenberick rolled an RBI base hit down the left field line to bring home the winning run and secure the 1-0 Columbia win in the bottom of the eighth inning in game one of Friday's doubleheader against Penn. The Lions lost game two, 7-0.
Columbia is now 12-19 overall on the season and 7-7 in Ivy League play. The series rubber match on Saturday will now be played at 11 a.m. as it was moved up from the original 12:30 p.m. start time.
The softball team will celebrate Pride Day at Saturday's game as the team will wear Pride themed warm ups and bracelets. This will be the team's first annual Pride Game, which celebrates the University's and surrounding community's LGBTQ+ community. Free themed bracelets will be given out to fans before Saturday's game.
GAME 1
The afternoon got started with a pitcher's duel as junior right-hander
Raquel Reyes and Penn's Kelly Zybura each fired seven scoreless innings to send the game into the eighth inning.
Reyes took advantage of her position as a pitcher and batter as she hit a leadoff double to left field to start the bottom of the eighth inning for the Lions. First-year
Savanna Messner came in as the pinch runner for Reyes before Rifenberick was put in as the pinch hitter for sophomore
Maddie Souza.
Rifenberick came to the plate and lined an RBI single down the left field line that scored Messner and gave the Lions the 1-0 win. Rifenberick continues her walk-off magic at home as she was also responsible for a two-run walk-off homer to defeat Dartmouth back on March 31.
Reyes (5-6) earned the win and her third complete game performance of the season as she tossed 8.0 innings. She allowed just three hits as she notched two strikeouts.
GAME 2
The Quakers got the scoring started early in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. Penn put a three-spot in the top of the first inning. Penn then added a run in the third, one run in the fifth, and two runs in the seventh to polish off the 7-0 win over Columbia to force the rubber match.
The Lions finished with three hits in the second game of the day as
Jaden Hill,
Bubba Gleaves, and
Maddie Souza each reached base.
Sophomore right-hander
Jordan Hill (5-10) was charged with the loss as she went 3.0 innings, allowing four runs on four hits. She struck out two in the outing. First-year lefty
Charlotte Laidler came in as relief and fired 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. She picked up one strikeout.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Softball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsSoftball), Instagram (@culionssoftball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaSoftball).
