Softball drops game to Knights, will finish year against Penn

The Columbia softball team was scheduled to play two games against Fairleigh Dickinson yesterday, but only one of the two contests in the doubleheader is being counted. The first game started almost two hours late due to a rain delay, and the nightcap was canceled after four complete innings due to darkness—for softball games to count, at least five innings must be played.

The Lions fell in the first game 4-2 despite freshman Prophet Gaspard’s efforts from the mound. The rookie pitcher threw five strikeouts in the game but also let in four runs. After an early 2-0 deficit, the Light Blue tied it up in the bottom of the sixth. Senior second baseman Karen Tulig singled through the left side, bringing both sophomore Alison Lam and senior Maggie Johnson home. However, the Lions’ offensive outburst wasn’t enough to overcome the Knights, which brought in two runs at the top of the seventh to win the game.

Columbia will wrap up its season this weekend with its final four conference games against Penn, which is currently ranked second in the South Division, right above the Light Blue. The Quakers lost their midweek matchup against Delaware 6-2. In last weekend’s play in the Ancient Eight, the Red and Blue dropped both of the games they played against Cornell 10-2 and 8-6.

Friday’s first game, which will feature the four seniors on the roster during Senior Night, is set to start at 2 p.m. at the Columbia Softball Stadium. Saturday’s games will be in Philadelphia with the first pitch being thrown at 2 p.m. This will be the last time that Johnson, Tulig, Anne Marie Skylis, and Stephanie Yagi suit up for Columbia.