NEW YORK – Home runs off the bats of sophomore
Maddie Souza and first-year
Georgia Corey accounted for three of Columbia's five runs in a 5-4 rubber match win over Penn on Saturday afternoon at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
The Lions improve to 13-19 on the season with an 8-7 record in Ivy League play as the regular season starts the wind down. Entering the weekend, the Lions were in fourth place in the conference standings. The top four teams will compete in the Ivy League softball tournament at the conclusion of the regular season.
"It's always great to battle back for a series win," Columbia Softball Head Coach
Jennifer Teague said. "We saw some really good fight today and I look forward to building on it for the rest of the season."
Penn got started quickly Saturday with a solo home run in the top of the first to take the early 1-0 lead.
Columbia answered in the bottom of the frame with one run. Senior
Megan Ryono hit a leadoff double to center field to get the bottom of the first started. Fellow senior
Bubba Gleaves then singled through the right side to put runners on the corners with one out. Sophomore
Cami Neal stepped up next and hit a sac fly to center that allowed Ryono to score.
The Quakers and Lions traded runs again in the third inning as Penn added a run in the top of the inning and Columbia responded with a run in the bottom of the frame to keep the game tied.
Souza launched a solo home run over the right field wall to tie the game in the bottom of the third. The homer marked Souza's first of the season.
Columbia scored in back-to-back innings by adding a two-spot in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-2 lead. Junior
Raquel Reyes reached on an error with one out. Corey stepped up next and belted a two-run homer over the right field wall. Corey now has three home runs for the season.
Penn would not back down as the Quakers rallied with two runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game, 4-4. The Lions were retired in order to send the game to the sixth inning still tied.
Looking for a chance to reclaim the lead, Neal reached on a leadoff single to start the bottom of the sixth. First-year
Savanna Messner came in as the pinch runner. Fellow first-year
Eleni Katsivalis came to the plate next and lined an RBI double to right field that scored Messner and gave the Lions a 5-4 advantage heading into the seventh inning.
Sophomore right-hander
Jordan Hill polished off the Columbia win by retiring in the Quakers in order in the top of the seventh.
Reyes (6-6) earned the win as she fired 4.1 innings. She allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out two. Hill finished her outing with two strikeouts in 2.2 innings pitched.
Columbia softball also celebrated its first Pride Day event Saturday. The Pride Day event was organized to celebrate the University's and surrounding community's LGBTQ+ community. Softball players wore Pride themed warm ups and bracelets, and the stadium was decorated.
"It's important to have Pride events to provide a safe space to celebrate inclusivity and support to those in the LGBTQ+ community," Teague said. "It's also important that we celebrate the allies who are on the front lines fighting just as hard for equal rights for all."
UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up the 2023 home schedule next weekend when they host Cornell for a three-game series. Columbia will play a Saturday doubleheader against Cornell starting at 12:30 p.m. The series finale will be played next Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
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).
