NEW YORK – Savanna Messner lined up an RBI base hit up the middle to score Caroline Palys from second base in the bottom of the seventh to help Columbia secure its second straight walk-off victory Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
 
"Great team win today," Columbia Softball Head Coach Jennifer Teague said. "I thought we made some positive strides with our starting pitching today and of course base runner with timely hitting was key."
 
First-year Lily McCord got the start in the circle and had a strong showing with 5.0 innings of work. McCord retired the leadoff batter in the first five innings and allowed just one run in the second inning until Monmouth tied the game with two runs in the sixth. Raquel Reyes came in and worked the final 2.0 innings.
 
Monmouth took the lead in the top of the second inning with an RBI single from Devin Coia. Columbia then used a three-spot in the third inning to take the lead.
 
Two Columbia home runs in the third scored the three runs. Messner launched a one-out solo shot over the left field wall for the first homer of the frame. Eleni Katsivalis then hit a two-out double before Sarah Mikami stepped up and hit a two-run homer to put Columbia in front, 3-1.
 
Columbia was able to hold off Monmouth scoring attempts until the sixth inning when the Hawks plated two runs to tie the game. Columbia rallied to score a run in the seventh to secure the walk-off victory.
 
ON DECK
The Lions return to Ivy League action this weekend at Cornell. Columbia opens the series with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 12:30 p.m. The teams will play the series finale Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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