April 11, 2006
Final Stats
NEW YORK, N.Y. - A three-run game in the top of the sixth, the Lions gave up 10 runs in the last two innings to take a 17-4 loss to Rutgers. Sophomore Noah Cooper had two singles and a double on the day, leading Columbia with three hits in four plate appearances.
Rutgers got on the board early, scoring four runs off of senior starter, Nick Oleksak, who gave up four hits, including a two-run homer. The Lions, however, had an answer, scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Cooper led off with a double down the left field line and with one out, junior Craig Rodwogin joined him on base, drawing a walk. Sophomore Dan Neczypor hit both runners on a screaming triple down the right field line and then came home himself as first-year Ron Williams grounded out to the right side of the field to make the score, 4-3.
The Scarlet Knights gained a 6-3 lead in the top of the fourth, scoring two runs on two hits. Columbia put up another run in the bottom of the inning, combining for two hits. Neczypor led off the inning with a double to left centerfield and then him and Williams traded places as Williams hit a double to the right side of the field to cut the Rutgers lead by one run.
Rutgers put another run on the board in the top of the sixth inning on one hit to make the score 7-4. The Scarlet Knights took a bigger lead in the top of the eighth inning, going ahead 10-4, scoring three hits on two hits and one Columbia error. Rutgers pushed seven runs across the plate in the top of the ninth inning, putting the game out of reach for the Lions, 17-4.
Oleksak took the loss for the Lions, pitching five innings, allowing nine hits and six runs while striking out five Rutgers batters. Cooper finished the game going 3-for-4 at the plate as Williams and Neczypor accounted for all the Lions' RBI, with two a piece.
The Lions face Princeton in a four-game series this coming weekend at home. Columbia will play doubleheaders at noon on both Saturday, April 15th and Sunday, April 16th.
