Saturday, March 22
New York, N.Y.
12:30 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
Penn
Columbia Softball Hosts Penn in Ivy League Opener
3/21/2025 2:12:00 PM | Softball
Lions make their home debut with a double header Saturday
NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team makes its 2025 home debut this weekend when the Lions host Penn for a three-game Ivy League series on Saturday at Columbia Softball Stadium.
Saturday's twin billing is scheduled to begin at 12:35 p.m., with game two slated to start at 3:05 p.m. Sunday's contest will start at 12:35 p.m.
This weekend's games between the Lions (6-9) and Quakers (1-17) can be watched live on ESPN+ or followed via live stats.
Game 1 – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 2 – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 3 – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
LAST TIME OUT
Columbia could not avoid the big inning as host Sacramento State defeated the Lions 10-2 in five innings on Tuesday. The loss wrapped up a five-game road trip to California in which Columbia went 2-3.
STAT LEADERS
Sarah Mikami leads the squad in average (.375), total bases (29), and extra base hits (7) through the first 15 games. Her three home runs is also tops on the team. Maddie Souza leads the squad with 12 RBI on the year.
In the circle, Emmy Davis, Jordan Hill, and Charlotte Laidler all share the team lead with two wins apiece. Davis leads the team in innings pitched (28.0) and strikeouts (13).
DOUBLES MACHINE
Cami Neal is currently 12th in the nation and second in the Ivy league in doubles per game, averaging 0.42 per contest. Her five doubles gives her 24 for her career, putting her 2 shy of cracking the top-four for doubles in a career at Columbia.
NICE JOB ROOK
Earlier this week, first-year shortstop Juju O'Brien was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week. It is the first career weekly honor for O'Brien. The native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., hit .700 the previous week and boasted a .727 on base percentage.
DON'T RUN ON CAROLINE
Attention, would-be base stealers of the Ivy League: you are advised NOT to run on catcher Caroline Palys. Palys is tops in the Ivy at throwing out runners attempting to steal with five – a new career-high.
SCOUTING PENN
The Quakers enter this weekend riding a 17-game losing streak. Penn defeated Morgan State 7-2 in their 2025 debut and has not gotten back into the win column since. Last time out, Penn fell to Lehigh 7-2.
As a team, the Quakers are hitting .219 and averaging 2.2 runs per game. Leading the team at the dish is first-year outfielder Gigi Ganje who is hitting .315 (17-for-54). Jade Montgomery is the team leader with three home runs, while Rachel Riley leads the squad with 10 RBI.
In the circle, the Quakers sport a 7.21 staff ERA. In 102.0 innings pitched they have allowed 163 hits, and 105 earned runs. Ainsley Pemberton leads the squad with a 1-5 record.
THE SERIES
Saturday will be the 73rd meeting between the two Ivy League rivals. All-time, Penn owns a 44-28 advantage in the series that dates back to the 2001 season. However, since 2019, the Lions are 11-4 against Penn and have not lost a season-series. Last time out, the Lions swept Penn on the road.
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).
Saturday's twin billing is scheduled to begin at 12:35 p.m., with game two slated to start at 3:05 p.m. Sunday's contest will start at 12:35 p.m.
This weekend's games between the Lions (6-9) and Quakers (1-17) can be watched live on ESPN+ or followed via live stats.
Game 1 – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 2 – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 3 – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
LAST TIME OUT
Columbia could not avoid the big inning as host Sacramento State defeated the Lions 10-2 in five innings on Tuesday. The loss wrapped up a five-game road trip to California in which Columbia went 2-3.
STAT LEADERS
Sarah Mikami leads the squad in average (.375), total bases (29), and extra base hits (7) through the first 15 games. Her three home runs is also tops on the team. Maddie Souza leads the squad with 12 RBI on the year.
In the circle, Emmy Davis, Jordan Hill, and Charlotte Laidler all share the team lead with two wins apiece. Davis leads the team in innings pitched (28.0) and strikeouts (13).
DOUBLES MACHINE
Cami Neal is currently 12th in the nation and second in the Ivy league in doubles per game, averaging 0.42 per contest. Her five doubles gives her 24 for her career, putting her 2 shy of cracking the top-four for doubles in a career at Columbia.
NICE JOB ROOK
Earlier this week, first-year shortstop Juju O'Brien was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week. It is the first career weekly honor for O'Brien. The native of Manhattan Beach, Calif., hit .700 the previous week and boasted a .727 on base percentage.
DON'T RUN ON CAROLINE
Attention, would-be base stealers of the Ivy League: you are advised NOT to run on catcher Caroline Palys. Palys is tops in the Ivy at throwing out runners attempting to steal with five – a new career-high.
SCOUTING PENN
The Quakers enter this weekend riding a 17-game losing streak. Penn defeated Morgan State 7-2 in their 2025 debut and has not gotten back into the win column since. Last time out, Penn fell to Lehigh 7-2.
As a team, the Quakers are hitting .219 and averaging 2.2 runs per game. Leading the team at the dish is first-year outfielder Gigi Ganje who is hitting .315 (17-for-54). Jade Montgomery is the team leader with three home runs, while Rachel Riley leads the squad with 10 RBI.
In the circle, the Quakers sport a 7.21 staff ERA. In 102.0 innings pitched they have allowed 163 hits, and 105 earned runs. Ainsley Pemberton leads the squad with a 1-5 record.
THE SERIES
Saturday will be the 73rd meeting between the two Ivy League rivals. All-time, Penn owns a 44-28 advantage in the series that dates back to the 2001 season. However, since 2019, the Lions are 11-4 against Penn and have not lost a season-series. Last time out, the Lions swept Penn on the road.
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).
Players Mentioned
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P/1B
/ Softball
P/UT
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
OF
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