NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team faced active bats from the visiting UAlbany Great Danes, as they defeated the Lions 8-3 on Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
Columbia (9-10) couldn't capitalize on six hits at the plate, scoring only three runs. Eleni Katsivalis and Mandy Pelatowski batted in the runs for the Lions.

Trailing 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Lions got on the board thanks to a double from Katsivalis, bringing home Juju O'Brien and Maddie Souza. O'Brien and Souza reached via walks, with Katsivalis driving them in with a double down the left field line. Two batters later, Pelatowski gave the Lions their third run of the game when she singled through the left side to score Katsivalis.

UAlbany (8-15) ultimately won thanks to some big hitting. The Great Danes opened the scoring with a two-run home run from Deanna Grahek in the second inning. The middle innings proved fruitful for UAlbany, as Victoria Vilarchao hit another two-run homer in the fourth, and three more runs were brought home in the fifth inning. They capped the scoring off with a run in the seventh inning, as Natasha Mendez batted in Kaitlyn Parisi with a single up the middle.

Taking the loss for Columbia was starter Jordan Hill (3-4). Hill surrendered four runs on three hits in four innings of work. Caylene Nguyen pitched the next two innings in relief, giving up three runs on two hits. Lily McCord closed out the game, giving up just one hit and no runs in one inning pitched. 

UP NEXT
Columbia will go on the road for another doubleheader Friday against Harvard. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. with game two slated for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

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