DAVIDSON, N.C. - Davidson plated a run in the bottom of the ninth to edge the Lions, 3-2, and claim game one of a two-game series.
The Wildcats' leadoff batter in the inning, Jay Honeycutt, doubled to right field, and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. The following batter grounded to first, and Honeycutt narrowly beat out catcher Dean Forthun’s tag to seal the victory for Davidson.
In the bottom of the third, Columbia fell behind when Davidson got on the board first with an RBI single to left field.
Lion third baseman Mike Roberts responded in the top of the fifth with a leadoff home run over the centerfield wall to even the score at 1-1.
Columbia added a run in the following inning to take a 2-1 lead. Sophomore Jason Banos reached first on balls, and advanced to second on a single to left field by Ron Williams. Banos successfully stole third and was driven in on an RBI single by Mike Roberts.
The Wildcats knotted the score, 2-2, in the bottom half of the inning when Brett Shore scored on an error after reaching on a one-out double.
In the bottom of the eighth, Clay Bartlett took over for Perkins, who finished the game with seven strike-outs. The Wildcats managed to get runners on first and second, but Forthun caught a Wildcat stealing third to end the inning with the game still tied.
Senior co-captain Henry Perkins got his first start on the mound, pitching 7.1 innings, giving up seven hits and two runs, one earned. Perkins also went two for three from the plate, while Mike Roberts had two runs batted in.
Columbia (2-11) and Davidson (7-8) face off Wednesday, March 19 at 4 p.m. for the final game of the series.
Courtesy: Columbia University Athletics/John Forthun
