PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Columbia softball team won its first game over Brown before losing the second game to split Saturday's doubleheader. Columbia moves to 14-19 overall this season and 8-6 in Ivy League action.
Cami Neal and Madi Souza helped lead the Lions at the plate with three hits each in the doubleheader.
Sarah Mikami and
Savanna Messner each launched home runs to help Columbia win the first game of the doubleheader.
Columbia struck first in the first game Saturday. Souza reached on a leadoff triple in the top of the second inning. Mikami then scored Souza on a sac fly to center field. The Bears answered with a run in the fifth inning to tie the game.
Looking to avoid extra innings, Columbia belted two homers in the top of the seventh. The three-spot propelled Columbia to the 4-1 win in game one. Messner got the frame started with a solo shot. Mikami added some insurance later in the inning with a two-run blast to center that scored Souza.
Raquel Reyes (6-8) picked up the win in the first game with a full 7.0 inning performance. Reyes allowed just one run on two hits to go along with a strikeout.
Brown took the early lead in game two with one run in the bottom of the first. Columbia answered with two runs in the third. Neal doubled to left field to score
Mandy Pelatowski.
Eleni Katsivalis then hit a sac fly to center that allowed
Caroline Palys to score from third base.
Brown used a two-spot in the bottom of the fifth inning to hang on and take a 3-2 win in game two, forcing a series rubber match Sunday.
Mikami (5-7) was charged with the loss in the second game as she gave up three runs on four hits in 4.2 innings of work. Mikami tallied three strikeouts in the outing.
Charlotte Laidler came in and tossed 1.1 innings to wrap up the game.
ON DECK
Columbia and Brown will meet at 12:30 p.m. Sunday for the series finale.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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