Lions take seven in Florida, drop home opener

Columbia softball wasn’t exactly on break last week, playing in 12 games over seven days at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. The long string of games did give the Lions their first win of 2009, however, although the first home win of the year will have to wait after a home-opening doubleheader loss to Boston University on Saturday.

Columbia (7-14) opened its trip down south against Bucknell on March 13, defeating the Bison 3-2. Sophomore pitcher Maggie Johnson, Ivy League Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 17, pitched a complete game against Bucknell, allowing only six hits and two walks while striking out three. The Lions were not as successful in their second game of the day, a 12-0 loss to Butler. Columbia only recorded three hits during the contest, all by center fielder Jackie Ecker.

The Light Blue split its games the following day as well, falling to South Dakota, 8-4, and defeating Sacred Heart by the same score. Ecker, shortstop Kelli Leong, and left fielder Kayla Lechler each recorded two hits in the contest against South Dakota. The offense was spread out in the Light Blue victory over the Pioneers, with six Lions collecting at least one hit. First baseman Dani Pineda led the way with three hits and three runs scored.

The third day brought yet another split, with the Lions defeating Army, 4-2, before falling to Wisconsin-Green Bay, 5-0. Johnson posted another strong outing against Army, giving up only three hits and one walk while striking out five in another complete game effort. Johnson even made up for her two earned runs with a two-run home run in the fourth inning. The offense disappeared against UW-Green Bay, with only Pineda and Johnson collecting hits.

Columbia received the next day off, and the rest apparently helped, as the Light Blue swept Lafayette and Rider. The Lions defeated the Leopards, 9-3, behind yet another impressive, complete game effort from Johnson. Lechler, behind the plate for this game, and right fielder Stephanie Yagi combined for four hits and three RBI against Lafayette, with Yagi adding three more RBI versus Rider.

The Lions were unable to build on their modest winning streak, however, dropping their next game to Colgate, 3-2, before defeating Rhode Island, 7-3. Once again, Johnson went the distance, only to pick up a tough loss on a walkoff double by Colgate’s Jennifer Ortega. The contest against Rhode Island was less of a nail-bitter as Columbia grabbed the lead in the first inning. Erica Clauss pitched a complete game, allowing only seven hits and one walk, while Leong led the offense with two RBI.

On the final day of the Rebel Spring Games, the Light Blue recorded its first shutout of the season, defeating Saint Peter’s, 6-0, before dropping a close game to Fairleigh Dickinson, 5-4. Against Saint Peter’s, Jessica Rakonza threw the first shutout of her collegiate career, allowing only three hits and one walk while striking out four. But the Lions were plagued by sloppy fielding in their loss to Fairleigh Dickinson—three of the runs given up by Johnson, who entered in relief of Clauss, were unearned.

After a disappointing end to a successful spring break trip, Columbia returned to Baker Field on Saturday to face Boston University. The first game of the doubleheader proved to be a pitchers’ duel, and despite giving up only six hits and two walks over seven innings of work, Johnson was the hard-luck loser, with BU’s Cassidi Hardy no-hitting the Lions for the win.

The second game was a slugfest with Columbia led, once again, by Ecker and Pineda, who each recorded three hits. Pineda also drove in two runs, but her effort was not enough for the Lions to capture the victory.

To cap an exhausting break, Columbia traveled to New Jersey to face Monmouth on Sunday, dropping both games of the double-header. The Lions lost the first game, 3-1, and dropped the second contest, 8-0.

Next up, the Lions return to New Jersey to face off against Fairleigh Dickinson on Thursday at 3 p.m. It will be the team’s last nonconference game before beginning league play this weekend.