NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team took both halves of Saturday's twin billing, defeating Dartmouth 5-4 in game one before coming back to defeat the Big Green 9-8 in 10 innings in the nightcap on Saturday at the Columbia Softball Stadium.
 
After winning the first game, the Lions (22-16, 14-6 Ivy) clinched their spot in the Ivy Tournament. Tatum Hubble recorded three RBIs on three hits in game two, while Eleni Katsivalis recorded two RBIs on three hits.
 
Jordan Hill (9-7) started in game one and threw her eighth complete game of the season en route to a win. Caylene Nguyen (4-0) pitched the final 6.2 innings of game 2 for the Lions, playing a crucial role in the Lions holding on for extra innings and allowing only one run.
 
Dartmouth's (17-20, 10-10 Ivy) starter Jensin Hall (10-9) recorded two losses after pitching just two innings in game 1 then returning for the final 5.1 of game 2. The Big Green finished the day scoring 12 runs on 18 hits. Outfielder Alaan Panu went 4-for-8 with four runs scored and five driven in. She also knocked a pair of home runs in game two.
 
GAME 1 RECAP
The Lions were first to get on the board, scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning after an Olivia Madkins RBI single allowed Juju O'Brien to cross home plate.
 
Sarah Mikami opened the bottom of the third with her fifth home run of the season. Cami Neal followed that with a triple down the left foul line. 
 
Despite a pitching change by the Big Green, Neal jogged across home plate after Juju O'Brien tripled down the right field line. Madkins notched another with an RBI single to left, allowing O'Brien to score to put the Lions up 4-0.
 
Dartmouth's first signs of life came in the fourth as Panu was able to score their first run off an RBI single from Malone, just after reaching first on a Lions throwing error and stealing second.
 
O'Brien knocked in the Lions' fifth and final run in the fifth. The run proved to be crucial as the Big Green cut the deficit to one with a three-run home run from pinch hitter Georgia Bilski – the first of her career. Hill regrouped and ended the threat to secure the win.
 
GAME 2 RECAP
Emmy Davis made the start in the circle for the Lions in the nightcap. A leadoff home run by Panu put the Big Green in front to start the afternoon's second game.

A Shimansky double followed by a Mikami single allowed Shimansky to tie the game on a Dartmouth error. After Souza loaded the bases with a single, the Big Green walked O'Brien and gave the Lions the lead as Mikami crossed the plate. Tatum Hubble netted two RBIs on a single to left field, allowing Souza and Neal to give Columbia a 4-1 lead exiting the first inning.
 
Leading 6-2 in the third, the Big Green offense came to life. Lily McCord came in to pitch for the Lions in the fourth and was roughed up for five runs in just a third of an inning. The big hit was a three-run home run from Alaana Panu to give Dartmouth a 7-6 lead.
 
The Lions pivoted to Nguyen, who promptly ended the threat. Dartmouth once again loaded the bases, but Nguyen struck out Beauvais before Columbia got a much-needed ground out to end the frame.
 
The two offenses went quiet with both sides trading zeros. In the bottom of the seventh, the Lions tied the game up thanks to small ball. Souza led off the frame, reaching thanks to an Dartmouth error. She moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from O'Brien. After Nguyen was hit by a pitch, Souza scored the tying run on an RBI single up the middle from Hubble.
 
The drama picked back up in the 10th inning. A pair of singles put runners at the corners with one out for Panu. The left fielder struck again, this time slapping a single to right field with an RBI single to break the tie 7-7 tie. Nguyen got out of the jam getting a lazy fly ball to center and a pop up to first.
 
Down to their final three outs, the Lions comeback started when Mikami drew a leadoff walk. Neal beat out an infield single to third to put runners at first and second with no outs. A wild pitch moved both runners up 60 feet. With the winning run on second base, a second wild pitch allowed Mikami to tie the game, as she beat out a throw to the plate. Dartmouth's catcher Marilyn Beauvais could not corral the ball that was kicked out of her glove allowing Neal to score the winning run.
 
UP NEXT
Columbia will finish the series against Dartmouth and host their Senior Day on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 11:05 a.m.
 
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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