After getting swept on Saturday by Princeton, the Columbia baseball team came roaring back to defeat the Tigers in both contests on Sunday and cement its two-game lead atop the Gehrig Division.

While the Lions’ pitching staff faltered on Saturday, giving up 23 runs over the first two games, the Columbia offense provided solid run support all weekend long.

Aside from putting up 16 runs in the losing efforts, the Lions’ offense not only scored another 10 runs on Sunday but scored them in key situations.

Both of Columbia’s matchups on Sunday were won by just two runs, and the offense deserves credit for staying one step ahead of Princeton and achieving the two much-needed victories to salvage the weekend.

Leading the Lions’ offense this season, which has averaged 5.4 runs per game, is sophomore standout Jason Banos. Banos displayed flashes of talent last season, but he has truly developed in his 2008 campaign. The left fielder currently leads Columbia with a .357 batting average and has started all 32 games the Lions have played.

But Banos’ ability to hit for average has been complemented by traces of power this season. Banos is tied with Mike Roberts for the team lead in home runs with four and leads the Lions once again with his 28 RBI. He also sits atop Columbia hitters with 71 total bases and 14 doubles.

But just an inch behind Banos sits Mr. Baseball himself, Henry Perkins. The senior infielder, who doubles as a right-handed pitcher, is hitting .355 on the year and leads the Lions with a .579 slugging percentage. Perkins has also been a triples specialist this season with five three-baggers and sits tied with Banos for a share of the team lead in extra base hits with 18 total.

Freshman Nick Cox has provided a steady offensive boost with 13 extra base hits to go along with a .339 batting average. Although his run production totals are not high yet, his 41 hits thus far, including four triples, have made a great impact on the Columbia offense. The Lions can only hope that Cox will follow Banos in continuing his progression as a hitter.

In addition to these hitters, veteran outfielder Noah Cooper has had a terrific season in his own right. He is currently the fourth Lion to be hitting at least .330 or better.
Cooper doesn’t hit for power, but the senior owns a .408 on-base percentage, good enough for third highest on the team. Cooper is also an extremely tough out and as a true contact hitter, he has the fewest strikeouts on the team of the entire starting lineup, fanning just 11 times in 2008.

While the four aforementioned Lions are having exceptional seasons, catcher Dean Forthun, third baseman Mike Roberts, and first baseman Ron Williams are familiar staples of the Columbia run production.

Forthun continues to get on base and currently has a .284 batting average, including 11 extra base hits. But Roberts and Williams are two of the top run producers on the team, churning out a combined 45 of Columbia’s 147 RBI this year. Williams has knocked in 21 runs from the middle of the batting order, and Roberts has four long balls to go along with 24 RBI of his own on the year.

Although the Columbia pitching staff has kept the Lions in most games this season, the offensive firepower that Columbia has amassed has certainly converted on the solid pitching. With a team batting average of .283 and four hitters over the .330 mark, Columbia’s ability to beat its three remaining Ivy opponents will surely depend on its continued consistency at the plate.