Softball Takes Down Mercer, Splits Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, February 28

Atlanta, Ga.

10 AM

Columbia

0-10

Presbyterian

9-6

Presbyterian

Columbia

Softball Takes Down Mercer, Splits Saturday Doubleheader

2/28/2026 5:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Mercer Box Score (PDF)Presbyterian Box Score (PDF)

Offense comes to life against the Bears

MACON, Ga. — The Columbia softball scored in three of the first four innings and made it stand up in a 5-3 win over Mercer Bears on Saturday at Sikes Field. Noching the Lions first win of the season and a strong rebound after an 8-0 loss to Presbyterian in Saturday's opener.

In the win over the Bears, Columbia (1-10) finished with 11 hits and went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position, consistently producing with traffic on the bases.

The Lions opened the scoring in the first. Tatum Hubble singled and later scored when Kyra Mason legged out an infield single for the RBI. In the second, Olivia Madkins doubled and came home on Eleni Katsivalis' RBI double to right, giving Columbia a 2-0 lead.

After Mercer (8-7) answered with a run in the second, Columbia broke through in the fourth. Savanna Messner and Onna Swanigan opened the inning with singles, and Madkins moved the runners with a groundout. Katsivalis then cleared the bases with a two-run double to left. Hubble followed with an RBI single down the right-field line, capping a three-run frame built on four consecutive hits with runners aboard.

Katsivalis finished 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs, including a two-out RBI. Hubble added two hits and an RBI, while Ruiz had two hits and drove in a run. Madkins also doubled and scored.

Mercer closed within 5-3 in the bottom of the fourth, but Mads Lawson (1-4) worked out of the inning and settled in. The right-hander went the distance, allowing three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over seven innings.

Columbia stranded seven but limited Mercer to 3-for-5 hitting with runners in scoring position and did not commit an error.

The nightcap was in stark contrast to the opener on Saturday in which the Lions offense was held to one hit in a masterful pitching performance from Presbyterian starter Avery Johnson (4-2)

Johnson faced just two batters over the minimum and did not allow a hit until Hubble broke up the no-hit bid with a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth.

The Blue Hose (9-6) scored two runs in the top of the first thanks to a wild pitch and a ground out to short that plated a run. That was all the offense Presbyterian would need, but they added a run in the third and five in the fourth.

Cierra Grice homered to center in the third. Hali Duke clubbed a pair of RBI doubles. Gracie DeCuir also knocked in a pair.

Lily McCord (0-4) took the loss. She went three complete, surrendering three runs on seven hits.

Columbia returns to action tomorrow morning with a pair of games on getaway day. Columbia begins play on Sunday at 8 a.m. when it takes on Presbyterian for the second time in the tournament. After that they battle Tennessee State at 10:30 a.m.

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