PRINCETON, N.J. – The Columbia softball team lost both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Princeton. The Lions drop to 10-17 overall and 6-5 in conference action.
GAME 1
Princeton plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning and didn't look back as the Tigers took the 7-1 win. Princeton posted one run in the second, one in the third, and a three-spot in the fifth to cap off the win.
Columbia scored its lone run of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore
Cami Neal was hit by a pitch to get on base. Fellow sophomore
Caroline Palys then drew a walk to put two Lions on with one out. Following a pop up, first-year
Sarah Mikami came to the plate an hit an RBI single to left field that scored Neal.
Sophomore right-hander
Jordan Hill (5-9) was charged with the loss as she got the start and tossed 3.1 innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out three. First-year lefty
Charlotte Laidler came in and fired 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. She recorded one strikeout in the outing.
GAME 2
The Tigers again struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Princeton would hold the one-run advantage until the top of the third when Columbia brought a run home.
Palys drew a walk to get the third inning started. She then advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher. Mikami stepped up to the plate next and lined a base hit RBI up the middle to score Palys and tie the game, 1-1. That marked Mikami's second RBI of the day as she brought in both of Columbia's runs for the day up to that point.
Columbia extended its lead in the top of the fifth as two runs scored. Palys again was walked to start the frame. A sac bunt from Mikami moved Palys over to second. Sophomore
Maddie Souza then tripled to right center to score Palys. Senior
Megan Ryono followed that up with a double to right center that scored Souza and gave the Lions a 3-1 lead.
The lead was short lived though as Princeton responded with a four-spot in the bottom of the fifth to reclaim the lead. A solo homer and a three-run blast gave the Tigers a 5-3 advantage.
Mikami reached on a dropped fly by the left fielder with one out in the top of the seventh as the Lions looked to mount a comeback. Souza was then hit by a pitch as Ryono come to the plate. Ryono double to right center to score Mikami and cut the Princeton lead down to one, 5-4. With Souza at third, a fly and ground out ended the game as she was left stranded and the Tigers held on to take the win.
UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up the series with Princeton on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
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