NEW YORK – After falling to visiting Brown 10-1 in game one of Sunday's double header, the Columbia softball team took the night cap, 2-1, thanks to a masterful pitching performance from starter Jordan Hill.

Columbia (14-14, 7-4 Ivy) struggled at the plate offensively, managing just four runs on eight hits over two contests. Juju O'Brien provided the bulk of the offense, going 4-for-6 on the day with two driven in. Cami Neal also knocked in a pair.

Pitching dominated both contests with Brown's (20-11, 6-5 Ivy) game one starter Alexis Guevara (10-5) throwing six innings of one run, three hit ball, to earn her tenth win of the season.

In the nightcap, it was Lions' starter Jordan Hill (5-5) who outdueled Macy Borowski (7-5) in an outstanding pitcher's duel.

GAME ONE RECAP
The Lions struck first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Eleni Katsivalis led off the frame with a double over the head of the left fielder. She moved over to third on a passed ball and scored on a deep fly ball to right off the bat of Neal.

After making quick work of the Bears in the first two innings, Lion's starter Emmy Davis (5-4) ran into trouble in the third and could not get out of the fourth.

After tying the game in the third, Brown took the lead for good by scoring five runs on six hits. The big hits were a pair of two-run home runs. The first from Leah Carey, her first of the year to make it 4-1. The second a blast from catcher Lauren Moody, her 11th of the year, giving the Bears a 6-1 lead.

The Bears added two four more runs in the seventh to put the game away.

GAME TWO RECAP
After scoring a run on two hits with the help of a pair of Columbia errors in the top of the second, the Bears were held in check thanks to an outstanding pitching performance from Hill.

Hill got plenty of defensive help behind her, including a crucial double play started by right fielder Olivia Madkins, throwing out a runner at home in a busy top of the first inning.

Brown scored the opening run of the contest in the second. The rally started with a leadoff single from Amanda Deng, she moved over to third on the double from Cameron Zytkewicz Ray. Deng scored on the ground out from Leah Carey.

From the middle of the second inning, to the top of the seventh with two outs, Brown was unable to figure out Hill, who retired 17 batters in a row before giving up a two-out single up the middle to Zytkewicz Ray. Hill immediately got Carey to fly out to center to end the game.

Hill's final line for the day, 7.0 innings pitched, five hits allowed, one run, with a walk and four strikeouts.

Columbia tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth on a single to right field from O'Brien that scored Maddie Souza from second. The Lions took the lead for good, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth when Neal singled to left field, scoring Caylene Nguyen from second.

UP NEXT
The Lions and Bears will play the rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. Fans can follow Monday's action via live stats and live video.
 
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