Softball Begins 2025 Season at UCF SpaceU Classic

Friday, February 21

Orlando, Fla.

9:00 A.M.

Columbia University

Quinnipiac

Softball Begins 2025 Season at UCF SpaceU Classic

2/20/2025 1:00:00 PM | Softball

Columbia plays five games this weekend to start the season

By: Garret Sulak

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Columbia softball team will kick off the 2025 season in Florida this weekend at the UCF SpaceU Classic.

The Lions will play five games in three days including doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Columbia will meet Quinnipiac at 9 a.m. and Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. Friday. Columbia will then face Florida Gulf Coast at 2 p.m. and UCF at 4:30 p.m. Saturday before wrapping up the weekend with another matchup against Quinnipiac at 9 a.m. Sunday.

LIVE COVERAGE
No live streaming will be available for games this weekend. Live stats will be provided by UCF and can be accessed by visiting the softball schedule page on GoColumbiaLions.com and clicking the link for each game.

THE OPPONENTS
Columbia will face two opponents that competed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament when the Lions play FGCU and UCF on Saturday. The rest of the weekend slate will also prove to be a test to start the season.

Quinnipiac enters the weekend with an 0-2 record after having several games canceled last weekend at the Roar City Invitational. Pittsburgh is 5-5 overall this season, including two wins last weekend at the Easton Classic II in Houston. FGCU is 5-8 so far this season after posting two wins last weekend at the FGCU Invitational. UCF enters the weekend with a 7-5-1 record after competing at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational last weekend.

NEW FACES
Columbia added five newcomers to the roster during the offseason. Emmy Davis, Alicia Marzouca, Kyra Mason, Caylene Nguyen and Juju O'Brien joined the roster and will look to make an immediate impact for the Lions this season.

"I am beyond thrilled to welcome this recruiting class to Morningside Heights," Columbia head coach Jennifer Teague said. "Collectively they bring a high softball IQ, power, speed and competitiveness that will help elevate and add to our already talented returning squad. This could be one of our most decorated recruiting classes coming out of the high school and club seasons. September third can't come soon enough. Team 26 is ready to go!"

More details on the incoming class can be found HERE.

RETURNING TALENT
Columbia brings back some top talent from last year's squad including unanimous First Team All-Ivy League selections Cami Neal and Sarah Mikami. Neal was a unanimous First Team selection at second base as she led the league in slugging (.892) and home runs (9) during conference play. Neal ranked second in the league in OPS (1.385) last spring. Mikami joined Neal as a unanimous First Team selection at the pitcher and utility position. She posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage during league play. Mikami also earned five wins and a save in the circle.

Savanna Messner and Maddie Souza will return after earning Honorable Mention All-Ivy League recognition. Messner started all 20 conference games and hit five home runs, which was tied for third place in the Ivy League. Souza started all 20 conference games and hit two triples during conference play to finish tied for second-most.

FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Softball by following the Lions on X (@CULionsSoftball), Instagram (@culionssoftball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaSoftball).