Pitching Dominates LIU as Lions Take Home Opener

Wednesday, March 18

New York, N.Y.

2 PM

Columbia

8-12

LIU

4-24

LIU

Columbia

Pitching Dominates LIU as Lions Take Home Opener

3/18/2026 5:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Mads Lawson and Caylene Nguyen combine to throw a 2-hitter

NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team got a stellar pitching performance from Mads Lawson and Caylene Nguyen as the Lions defeated LIU 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Columbia Softball Stadium.

Columbia (8-12) enters conference play having won eight of its last 10 games. In the 2026 home opener, the Lions' pitching staff held LIU (4-24) without a hit until the fourth inning and off the scoreboard until Kaylee Clarkson hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the sixth.

Lawson started the game in the circle for the Lions and was dominant. Scheduled just to go three innings, she retired eight in a row before allowing a single to Clarkson. Lawson faced just one of the minimum while striking out four.

Nguyen (2-1) entered the game for Columbia in the top of the fourth and finished the game in strong fashion. A 2-out walk in the fourth was all she surrendered before giving up the opposite field home run to Clarkson in the sixth.

After surrendering the home run, the Sharks' hitter Lily Hinkle drew a five-pitch walk, but Nguyen ended the threat, getting a rally-killing 6-4-3 double. She retired the next four batters to finish the game drama-free. Nguyen's final line: 4.0 innings pitched, one hit allowed, one run, with two walks and two strikeouts.

Offensively, the Lions finished the day with three runs on five hits. Eleni Katsivalis and Lawson led the way with a pair of hits each.

Columbia opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Lawson singled to shallow center, scoring Juju O'Brien from third. O'Brien led off the inning with a leadoff walk and moved into scoring position by stealing second; she eventually took third on a wild pitch.

The Lions added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring twice to stretch the lead to 3-0. Brianna Santangelo was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to third when Katsivalis smashed a double off the wall in right-center.

Kyra Mason then grounded out to second but drove in Santangelo, while Katsivalis advanced to third on the play. Sarah Mikami followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Katsivalis for the second run of the inning.

The loss went to LIU starter Sarah Wall (1-14). Wall went 2.1 innings, allowing a hit and a run with a pair of walks and a strikeout.

Columbia begins Ivy League play on Saturday when they travel to Providence, R.I., for a three-game series against Brown. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. first pitch.

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