ORLANDO, Fla. – The bats came alive for the Lions on Sunday as Columbia posted its first win of the 2023 season with a 7-5 win over Bradley on the last day of the Knight's Classic.
Senior
Megan Ryono got the game started with a leadoff blooper to right field. Ryono then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher to put herself in scoring position with one out.
Junior
Raquel Reyes drew a walk after running the count full and Sophomore
Cami Neal was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Senior
Bubba Gleaves then stepped up to the plate and launched a triple to right center that cleared the bases and put the Lions up, 3-0 with one out. With Gleaves on third, first-year
Sarah Mikami hit a grounder to second base that scored Gleaves and put the Lions up 4-0 through one inning.
"I am really proud of our team this weekend," Ryono said. "We stayed in our process and were able to get out of here with a win. We stayed in ourselves all throughout the seven innings of this game and fought back when we could. Today I was just looking for good pitches to hit, and it helped me help my team out."
The Braves answered back in the top of the third inning with a four-spot to tie the game. Bradley used four hits to bring four runs home in the frame. Sophomore right-hander
Jordan Hill came in with one out in the inning to replace the starter, Reyes after she allowed two runs. Hill gave up two more runs, but finished off the inning and stranded two runners.
The Lions would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the fifth as two runs scored. Ryono again started the inning with a base hit through the left side. Hill reached on a fielder's choice to third base as Ryono was thrown out at third. Hill then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch to set up the scoring opportunity.
Neal put the Lions back in front with a two-out double to right center that scored Hill. Gleaves then lined a base hit into right field to bring Neal home and give the Lions a 6-4 advantage through five innings.
With the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and two outs, Bradley's Grace French was hit by a pitch from Hill to bring a run in. Hill responded with a strikeout to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.
Columbia added one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning to finish off the 7-5 win. First-year
Eleni Katsivalis singled down the left field line to start the inning. She then moved to third as
Maddie Souza was thrown out at first and Ryono flied out to center. Junior
Jaden Hill stepped in the box and hit a double to right field that brought Katsivalis home to wrap up the win.
As a unit, the Lions totaled 11 hits in Sunday's game, included three extra-base hits.
Jaden Hill and Neal each hit doubles, while Gleaves had a triple.
Jordan Hill (1-2) earned her first win of the season with 4.2 innings of work in the circle. She allowed one earned run on six hits. She picked up four strikeouts in the outing. Reyes got the start and fired 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on two hits.
"The first win is always the hardest," head coach
Jennifer Teague said. "I could not be more proud of this team's fight all weekend. They just stayed in their process and continued to battle at the plate. Our pitchers continued to work through some things, and I am just super proud of our young players and our returners. It was a great 1-18 effort."
UP NEXT
The Lions are back on the road next weekend at the Gamecock Invitational hosted by South Carolina. Columbia will play North Carolina A&T State and South Carolina in a doubleheader Friday. The Lions will then play North Carolina Wilmington on Saturday and Illinois on Sunday.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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