March 4, 2006
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Lions Tighe Holden went a perfect 3-for-3 in the second game of Columbia's season opening doubleheader at Davidson as the team lost a heartbreaker in the seventh inning, 5-4. Columbia lost the first game 14-1 to start the season 0-2.
Davidson hopped on the board in the bottom of the first in the first game, getting three hits and capitalizing on an error to score three runs. Columbia got on the board in the second as Holden walked and then stole second. First-year Mike Roberts hit a single to left field, scoring Holden for the Lion's only run of the game. The Wildcats put up five more runs in the third inning, two in the fifth and four in the seventh to win the game 14-1.
Senior Marc Gold was the only Lion with multiple hits, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles and a walk. Starting pitcher, sophomore Bill Purdy, took the loss, throwing for 4.2 innings, allowing 11 hits, 10 runs (nine earned) and struck out one batter.
The Wildcats took an early 1-0 lead in the second game in the third inning. Columbia rallied, going ahead for the first time in the double header 2-1 in the top of the fourth. Junior Andrew Ward hit a double to right center with one out and Holden stepped up to the plate and hit a single up the middle to score Ward. Try to take the extra base, Holden was thrown out at second base by the Davidson catcher, Alex Entrekin. With two outs, sophomore Henry Perkins hit the second double of the inning, also to right center and Roberts hit a single to right field to send him home.
The Lions added to their lead in the sixth, scoring one run to make the score 3-1. With one out, Holden blasted his third hit of the game, a single, and advanced to third on a Wildcat error. He was then able to cross the plate on a passed ball.
Davidson had an answer, however, and took a 4-1 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Two doubles and a walk sent two runs across the plate and the Wildcats and scored their third run of the inning on a bunt single.
The Lions tied the game in the top of the seventh as sophomore Dan Neczypor scored Williams on a single, but Davidson again had an answer in the bottom half of the inning. Pitcher Matt Berninger hit the first batter, sending him to first base and then fouled out the next batter. The Davidson runner stole second and was then hit over to third on a single. Berninger, however, threw a wild pitch in the next at bat, allowing the Wildcats to score the winning run.
Berninger took the loss, pitching 6.l innings, allowing nine hits, five runs (four earned) while striking out five. Holden was a perfect 3-for-3 with one RBI and one walk. Gold had his second multiple hit game of the day, going 2-for-4 at the dish.
The Lions and Wildcats will wrap-up their four-game series tomorrow with a pair of seven inning affairs at Wilson Field. Game one of the doubleheader will begin with an 11 a.m. first pitch.
