NEW YORK – The Columbia rally fell short in the first game Friday, but the Lions bounced back to take a 9-3 win over Princeton in the second game of the doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Columbia Softball Stadium to start 1-1 in Ivy League action.
"It was great to get some momentum going in the seventh inning of the first game," Columbia Softball Head Coach
Jennifer Teague said. "We really gave Princeton the momentum in the first game and we took it back in that seventh inning. We just kept it going. I think we gained confidence as we continued to get base runners and have some timely hits, then
Sarah Mikami did enough to keep us in the game. It's always nice to get that first conference win."
GAME 1 RECAP
Columbia and Princeton played three scoreless innings to get the day started before the Tigers plated a run in the top of the fourth inning. Princeton added three runs in the fifth and two more in the top of the seventh to take a 6-0 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh.
The Lions got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the seventh and ignited a rally.
Maddy Rifenberick was walked to start the frame. Olivia Madkins came in as the pinch runner and moved to second on a
Caroline Palys single.
Jaden Hill followed with another single to load the bases with one out.
Savanna Messner reached on an error and Makins came home to put Columbia on the scoreboard.
Cami Neal stepped up next and hit a two-RBI single to score Hill and Palys. A
Payton Shimansky RBI single scored Messner moments later.
Maddie Souza trimmed the Tiger lead down to one with an RBI single through the left side that scored
Eleni Katsivalis.
The Columbia rally was cut just short though as Princeton held on to take the 6-5 victory in the first game of Friday's doubleheader.
Raquel Reyes (3-7) was charged with the loss as she fired 6.0 innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Only two of the runs were earned. Reyes tallied two strikeouts in the outing.
Charlotte Laidler came in for 1.0 inning of relief as she gave up two runs on three hits.
GAME 2 RECAP
Columbia struck first in the second game with a run in the bottom of the second inning as Katsivalis scored on a Rifenberick RBI. Princeton plated a run in the third and took a 2-1 lead heading to the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Lions erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth and three runs in the sixth to close out a 9-3 win over the Tigers. Back-to-back home runs from Rifenberick and Messner pushed the Lions ahead in the fifth inning.
Messner, Shimansky and Rifenberick totaled two hits in the second game. Messner led the way with three RBI in the game.
ON DECK
Columbia will play Princeton on Sunday in the series rubber match. First pitch is slated for 12:30 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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