BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Columbia softball team earned its first win of the 2024 season in a 4-2 victory over Rhode Island on Sunday morning. The Lions split Sunday's doubleheader after losing to Florida Atlantic, 7-0 on the final day of the FAU Owl Classic.
"It's always great to get the first win," head coach
Jennifer Teague said. "We have a lot of work to do in the next week and a half and we are excited to keep the progress going into spring break at the Madeira Beach Invitational."
RHODE ISLAND GAME RECAP
Columbia went ahead in the bottom of the third inning with three runs.
Jaden Hill started the inning by hitting a triple to center field.
Cami Neal was then credited with RBI as she grounded out to second base.
Savanna Messner stepped up next and drew a walk.
Eleni Katsivalis kept the Columbia momentum going with a single down the left field line that moved Messner to second.
Payton Shimansky followed with a walk to load the bases.
Sarah Mikami came to plate later in the inning and dropped a base hit in center field that allowed Messner and Katsivalis to score.
Rhode Island got on the board in the next frame with a solo homer to lead off the inning. Rhode Island struck again with another solo shot in the top of the sixth to cut the Columbia lead down to one.
The Lions added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to seal the 4-2 victory though.
Jaden Hill again led off the inning with a single through the left side this time. She advanced to second on a wild pitch before Katsivalis hit a two-out RBI single that brought Hill home.
Raquel Reyes (1-2) was credited with her first win of the season as she fired 6.2 innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits. She allowed three walks and tallied a strikeout in the outing.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC GAME RECAP
Florida Atlantic used a similar attack to Saturday's game as the Owls scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control. A Mora double to left center brought two runs home.
The Owls tacked on another run in the fourth and exploded for five runs in the fifth inning to take a 7-0 win over Columbia. A fielding error in the fourth allowed the Owls to score an unearned run. A two-run homer and a two-RBI double in the fifth scored four additional runs for Florida Atlantic.
Katsivalis continued a strong performance Sunday with two hits in the game.
Maddie Souza also recorded a base hit.
Lily McCord (0-1) was charged with the loss as she allowed two runs on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.
Sarah Mikami came in and tossed 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on five hits.
ON DECK
Columbia is back in action Friday, March 8 for the first game of the Madeira Beach Invitational. The Lions will face Chattanooga for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch before finishing the day against Stonehill at 3 p.m. Columbia will also play Troy, Sacred Heart, Bucknell, Siena and Colgate over the course of four days.
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).
