April 29, 2005
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. - The Lions dropped two games to Harvard, 6-2 and 12-4. Columbia is now 23-25 overall, 6-6 in the Ivy League going into its final two games of the season.
The Crimson took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the first game, scoring a run off of two hits. In the top of the third, the Lions had runner on second and third with one out but Harvard was able to get out of the jam. Hilary Parsons hit a fly ball to left field and it was caught by Susie Winkeller, who in turn threw out Lisa Copeland at home plate to get out of the inning.
Harvard scored another run in the bottom of the third as Lauren Stefanchik singled her way on first and reached second on a sacrifice bunt. During the next at bat, she stole third and catcher Marisa Marconi tried to throw her out at third, but her throw rolled into left field, allowing Stefanchik to score. The Crimson took a 4-0 lead in the fourth, getting two runs off of two hits and a leadoff walk.
The Crimson increased its lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning, scoring an unearned run on a fielding error by right fielder Lisa Copeland. In the bottom of the sixth, Harvard's Lauren Brown hit a solo homerun over the left field fence, making the score 6-0.
Columbia came back in the seventh inning, scoring two runs to make the final score 6-2. Junior Taylor Tierney led off the inning with a single and then moved over to third on a double by Copeland. Both runners scored as Kim Krisman hit a double of her own down the left field line.
Jackie Adelfio pitched the loss for the Lions, allowing six runs (four earned) and 10 hits. Krisman and Copeland were both 2-for-3 at the plate with Krisman having the team's two RBI.
The Lions took and early 2-0 lead in the second game, getting two runs in the top of the third inning. Krisman led off the inning with a double and moved over to third on a ground out by Maiya Chard-Yaron. Hilary Parsons then executed a squeeze bunt to score Krisman. Parsons moved over to second on a single by Copeland and Marconi scored Parsons on a long single to right field.
Columbia's lead was short-lived, however, as Harvard came back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring seven runs to make the score 7-2. The Crimson tallied eight hits in the inning. The Lions brought the game back within three runs, scoring two more in the top of the fourth. First-year Ciji Rich singled to start the inning and then sophomore Amy Cass hit a grounder to the infield and Rich beat the throw to second base to put runners at first and second. Krisman then reached first on a fielders choice and Rich moved to third as Harvard was able to throw Cass out. Next, Chard-Yaron also reached first on a fielder's choice, scoring Rich while Krisman was thrown out at second. With two outs, Copeland hit a single and then Harvard committed and error, allowing Chard-Yaron to come home.
Harvard scored two more runs in the fourth and three in the fifth to make the final score 12-4 and end the game in the fifth inning due to the eight-run rule. Megan Ivey pitched the loss for Columbia, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) and 16 hits. Copeland led the Lions at the plate, going 2-for-3 while Parsons was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Columbia faces Cornell in its final games of the season on Sunday, May 1st in Ithaca, N.Y. at noon.
