By the conclusion of the 2007-08 Ivy League baseball season, when Columbians prepared to move out for the summer, the Columbia baseball team was making history.
For the first time in 31 years, Columbia won the Ivy League Championship, beating Dartmouth to earn a berth in the NCAA Championship. The Lions snatched the title in the third game of the playoffs with a 7-5 victory over the Big Green in Hanover, N.H.
After a few weeks off, Columbia was swept in a three game set against non-conference foe Bucknell in Lewisburg, Pa. While the losses were disappointing, the Lions focused on preparing for their opening round match in the NCAA Tournament against Coastal Carolina, one of the best offensive teams in the nation.
After two scoreless innings of play to start the tournament, Columbia drew first blood on a leadoff homer by right fielder Mike Malfettone. But Coastal came right back in their half of the inning with a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Starter Bill Purdy threw four and a third solid innings before succumbing to the offensive pressure in the fifth inning as the Chanticleers added three runs to take a 4-1 lead. John Baumann relieved Purdy and threw two and one third innings of one-hit ball to keep the game close.
Coastal then proved why they earned a number 10 ranking entering competition, using four Columbia errors to score six times off the Light Blue bullpen in the eighth inning, putting the game out of reach.
The Lions took the field for their second game of the tournament the following day, this time doing battle with East Carolina.
Things started out ugly for the Lions when starter Joe Scarlata was torched for six earned runs—including two home runs—in just two and one third innings. The Pirates added two more runs in the fifth inning on three consecutive hits, and capped their nine-run day with another score in the sixth.
The Lions were unable to get their bats rolling, managing just four hits in the 9-0 loss at the hands of East Carolina. With its second NCAA loss in a row, and fifth straight overall, Columbia was eliminated from the tournament.
While the Lions were unable to come away with a tournament victory, it was the team’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1976, and Columbia amassed the most conference wins—15—in school history.
Eight players were named to All-Ivy teams, and several Columbians were recognized with awards. Outgoing senior Noah Cooper was named the 2008 Blair Bat winner, and second baseman Henry Perkins was crowned the 2008 Ivy League Player of the Year.
Sophomore outfielder Nick Cox received Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors and will look to continue the success of the Columbia baseball program next season.
