Lions Swept in Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, March 14

Arlington, Texas

2 PM

Columbia

5-11

South Dakota State

15-15

Columbia

South Dakota State

3/14/2026 9:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 South Dakota State Box Score (PDF)UT Arlington Box Score (PDF)

Walks and errors plague Columbia on the second day of the Maverick Invitational.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The Columbia softball team could not overcome free passes and defensive miscues as the Lions dropped a pair of contests on Saturday on the second day of the Maverick Invitational at the Allan Saxe Field. Columbia fell to South Dakota State 4-3 in the opener, before falling to the host Mavericks 9-2 in the nightcap.

Columbia (5-12) finished with 13 hits on the day, the big ones coming from Savanna Messner and Juju O'Brien, who both clubbed home runs. The 2-run home run from Messner against UT Arlington was the 15th of her career.

Game One Recap
The Columbia Lions jumped out early but could not hold the lead in a 4–3 loss to the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the opening game of a doubleheader Saturday at Allan Saxe Field.

Columbia (5-11) struck first with a three-run first inning. Eleni Katsivalis drew a leadoff walk and moved to third on Tatum Hubble's double down the left-field line. O'Brien then delivered the key swing, blasting a three-run home run to left to give the Lions a 3–0 lead.

The Lions finished with seven hits, led by Alicia Marzouca's two-hit performance. Hubble added a double, and O'Brien drove in all three runs while also swiping a base.

Columbia created several additional opportunities but struggled to convert, finishing 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The Lions stranded runners in the sixth and seventh innings, including a late chance when Mads Lawson reached and moved into scoring position in the final frame.

South Dakota State (15-15) chipped away with two runs in the second on a single and a sacrifice fly, then tied the game in the third on Emma Vike's RBI single. The Jackrabbits added the eventual winning run in the fourth when a stolen base and a Columbia error allowed a run to score.

Lily McCord started for Columbia and allowed three runs over three innings. Charlotte Laidler (0-1) took the loss in relief. Grace Proctor (1-0) earned the win for South Dakota State.

Game Two Recap
Columbia threatened early, putting two runners on in the first after Kyra Mason singled and Tatum Hubble was hit by a pitch, but the Lions were unable to convert with runners in scoring position.

UT Arlington (11-14) broke the game open in the third, capitalizing on multiple Columbia errors to score seven runs. The Mavericks used a sacrifice bunt, a bases-loaded walk and a two-RBI infield play to build the lead.

The Lions answered in the fourth when Marzouca clubbed a double off the wall, and Messner followed with a two-run home run to right field, trimming the deficit to 7–2.

Columbia continued to create chances but could not push across additional runs. Brianna Santangelo doubled and reached third in the fifth, but the Lions stranded the runner. In the sixth, Messner singled with Marzouca in scoring position, but the rally ended on a groundout.

Messner finished with two hits and both Columbia RBIs, while Marzouca and Santangelo each added doubles as the Lions recorded six hits.

Madi McDonnell (6-7) earned the win for UT Arlington, while Mads Lawson (3-5) took the loss for Columbia.

UP NEXT
The Lions wrap up the Maverick Invitational tomorrow when they take on South Dakota State. First pitch between the Lions and Jackrabbits is noon Eastern.

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