NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team batted its way to a pair of victories on Saturday, taking both games against visiting Cornell. The Lions dominated the Big Red 9-0 in game one before taking the afternoon matchup 8-4.
Sarah Mikami combined to go 4-for-6 while batting in three runs.
Cami Neal had a big day at the plate as well, going 4-for-5 with three RBI, including a mammoth home run in game one – the 19th of her career. She now takes sole possession of fourth all-time in Columbia history.
In the circle, Columbia (19-16, 11-6 Ivy) got strong starting pitching performances from
Jordan Hill and
Emmy Davis. While out of the pen,
Caylene Nguyen kept the Cornell (16-18, 6-11 Ivy) offense quiet in the second matchup.
GAME ONE RECAP
Game one starter
Jordan Hill (7-7) set the tone with a brilliant pitching performance. On the mound she tossed a complete game with five shutout innings, allowing only three hits en route to her seventh win of the season.
The Lions' offense came to life immediately, scoring two runs in the home half of the first inning.
Payton Shimansky and Neal reached on a double and a walk respectively, with
Maddie Souza smacking a two-out double to plate the pair.
Columbia's bats couldn't be stopped, as the Lions tacked on five more runs in the second. Mikami singled down the right field line to bring in
Olivia Madkins and Nguyen, with
Eleni Katsivalis then scoring on the proceeding wild pitch. Neal put an exclamation point on the inning with a two-run home run to right field, bringing in Mikami.
The Lions tacked on two more runs in the third, putting the game away.
Caroline Palys doubled to bring Nguyen home. A few batters later Shimansky capped off the scoring with a single down the right field line to bring home Palys. Columbia put together a complete performance up and down the lineup, producing nine total hits and 0 errors.
Taking the loss for Cornell in game one was starter Mila Fiordalisi. Fiordalisi lasted 1.2 innings, allowing five hits and four earned runs with a walk and two strikeouts.
GAME TWO RECAP
In the second half of the doubleheader, the Lions put together another solid performance with 13 hits and 0 errors. Columbia once again opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Mikami notched her third hit of the day to bring home Shimansky with a double to right center. She moved to third on the single by Neal, with both being brought home by Souza on a double to left center.
Cornell battled back, notching three runs in the top of the second inning to even the score at 3-3. The Lions answered in the bottom of the inning with a parade of two-out singles to retake the lead. Four consecutive RBI singles from Neal, Souza,
Juju O'Brien, and Nguyen allowed Columbia to surge back ahead at 7-3.
Emmy Davis (7-4) produced a strong outing on the mound, getting the win for the Lions. Davis went 4.1 innings, holding the Big Red to five hits with a career-high seven strikeouts.
While Cornell brought home an additional run in the fifth inning, Columbia responded with another in the sixth inning to maintain a four-run lead. This cushion was more than enough for the Lions, as Nguyen entered in relief to close out the game for the last 2.2 innings, tossing two strikeouts with only 1 hit and no runs allowed to secure the save.
The loss went to Kyrie Denny who went 1.2 innings, allowing 11 hits, seven earned runs, and one strikeout.
UP NEXT
Columbia continues their homestand and the series against Cornell tomorrow, Sunday, April 27 at Columbia Softball Stadium. First pitch for Sunday's game is scheduled at 12:30 p.m.
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