WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Columbia softball team put on a power hitting display in its 10-6 win over Monmouth at MU Softball Park. The Lions clubbed eight extra base hits, including three home runs in the offensive explosion.
Columbia (13-13) got plenty of
Monmouth (9-30) did their damage offensively, especially with two outs. The Hawks scored five of their six runs with two away, going 6-for-12 in that scenario.
The Lions broke through in the top of the second. With two on and two out,
Olivia Madkins smashed a ball over the center fielder's head for a two-run double. Madkins scored from second on the base hit up the middle from
Caroline Palys.
offense, notching 10 runs on a season-high 14 hits. Six Lions finished the day with multiple hits led by
Maddie Souza who went 3-for-3 with a double and two triples.
Cami Neal hit a pair of home runs;
Eleni Katsivalis also went yard.
Columbia went back to work on offense in the top of the third.
Sarah Mikami reached via a fielder's choice brought up Neal who smashed the first pitch she saw for her third home run of the year and 17th of her career.
Starter
Lily McCord pitched two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the bottom of the third. With two down, McCord surrendered back-to-back doubles, the second by Picone drove in a pair. Picone scored the third run of the inning when Lexi Castaneda slapped a single to right field.
Monmouth tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double by Jayla Cadena, again doing the damage with two outs.
The game did not remain tied for long. The Lions put the contest out of reach, scoring two in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. The big hits, a home run from Neal in the sixth, her second of the contest, and a solo home run from Katsivalis in the seventh.
The two home runs from Neal give her 18 for her career, she is now tied for fourth all-time at Columbia with Maggie Johnson (2008-11).
Caylene Nguyen (2-0) got the win. She pitched 1.1 innings in relief. McCord entered the game in the sixth and pitched two strong innings in relief to earn her second save of the season.
The loss went to Olivia Lewis (2-13), who was roughed up for four runs on eight hits in three innings of work.
UP NEXT
The Lions return home for an Ivy League showdown when Brown comes to New York for a three-game series starting Saturday. Game one of the series is slated for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.
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