Marietta, Ga. – After surrendering a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, Columbia scored five in the 10th thanks to clutch doubles from Sam Miller and Griffin Palfrey, giving the Lions a 10-5 win over host Kennesaw State on Friday afternoon at Walter Kelly Field.

The late-inning dramatics began in the bottom of the ninth when the Owls (1-5) tied the game up on a sacrifice fly from Donovan Cash.

Columbia (1-0) came roaring back in the top of the 10th when Anton Lazits led off the frame with a walk. He moved over to third on the single through the right side from Cole Fellows. The duo scored on the double by Miller. Miller finished a triple shy of the cycle going 3-for-5 with a double and a home run. He drove in three and scored three.

Alex Sotiropoulos (1-0) earned the win in his collegiate debut. He tossed 2.1 innings, scattering a run on a walk and a hit. The Lions used five pitchers on the day and combined to allow five runs on ten hits.

Walks played a crucial role in the Owls' comeback. Columbia surrendered 11 walks on the day, none bigger than the walk Aaron Posey to open the bottom of the ninth.

The Lions and Owls were locked in a pitchers' duel through four innings before Columbia broke through with four runs in the top of the fifth. Fellows started the fireworks with a solo home run to right center to open the frame. It was the eighth career home run for Fellows who finished the day going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The rally continued with a single from Miller and a walk to Jack Kail, putting two aboard for Eric Jeon who smashed a ball to the gap in right field to plate a pair. The Lions added a fourth run when Jeon scored on an error off the bat by Griffon Palfrey.

In the home half, the Lions could not get the shutdown inning. After getting two outs, the Owls scored three runs on three hits. Will Parkinson worked himself out of a 2-out bases-loaded jam getting a ground ball to first to end the threat.

Miller added to the Lions' total when he led off the top of the sixth with a blast to left field. It was the 16th career home run for Miller, he is now four home runs shy of moving into a tie for 10th on Columbia's all-time home run list.

The loss went to reliever JT Gibson (0-1) who pitched an inning plus. He surrendered four runs, three earned, on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Game two of the series is at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Follow The Lions
For the latest on Columbia baseball, follow @CULionsBaseball on X and Instagram, and the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.