NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Columbia softball team rallied back from a three-run deficit to tie the game in the sixth inning. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Yale avoided the sweep defeating the Lions 6-5 on Sunday afternoon at the 5K Corral Field.

Columbia (12-13, 6-3 Ivy) finished the afternoon scoring five runs on 11 hits. Payton Shimansky continues to be an impact bat at the top of the lineup. She finished the weekend going 3-for-4 with a double and a triple. For the series she hit .583 (7-for-12) with four runs scored and four driven in.

"Tough one today," head coach Jennifer Teague said. "I thought we battled well, and against a team like Yale, you can't afford to give them any extra opportunities. They had more timely hitting today, which made the difference. But overall, I liked our fight. Games like this make us better as we move down the stretch."

Yale (10-8, 6-6 Ivy) scored the opening run in the bottom of the first inning. A one out single followed by a triple off the bat of Isabella Fortini gave the Bulldogs the early momentum. Fortini would be a thorn in the Lions side all afternoon, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

The Lions tied it up in the top of the second on an RBI single by Olivia Madkins who scored Sarah Mikami.

Columbia starter Jordan Hill could not get the shut down inning she needed, as the Bulldogs retook the lead with a two-run bottom of the second. A sacrifice fly from Kaitlyn Oikle and an RBI base hit by Sophie Woodridge did the damage.

Yale added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. The Lions battled back however, scoring three in the top of the sixth. Shimansky's triple to right center plated a pair. She came around to score the tying run on the base hit from Cami Neal.

Neal finished the afternoon going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

In the bottom of the seventh, Lilly McCord (0-4) came back out for her fourth inning of work. The Lions' relief pitcher had tossed three effective innings before surrendering a one out double to Fortini, who eventually scored the game winning run on a costly Columbia error.

McCord finished the afternoon throwing 3.2 innings, surrendering five hits, three runs, two earned with a walk. The win went to Emma Taylor (10-8) who went 7.0 complete, allowing 11 hits, five earned runs, with a walk and two strikeouts.

UP NEXT
The Lions return to action on Wednesday when they travel to West Long Branch, N.J. to take on Monmouth. That game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
 
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