Light Blue Looks for Win Against Gaels

After suffering a sweep at the hands of Cornell last weekend, the Columbia softball team will try to rebound against an Iona team that has endured several struggles of its own this season.

The Lions dropped all four games of their weekend series against the Big Red in Ithaca, marking the second time this year they have been swept by a division opponent. The team was outscored 58-13 in the four-game set and surrendered a season-high 32 runs in two games last Sunday.

Overall, the team has dropped nine of its last 10 contests and has an 0-8 record against Ivy League South Division opponents Princeton and Cornell. They have dropped to seventh place in the Ivy League standings with a 3-13 conference record.
Columbia’s last win came against nonconference Fairleigh Dickinson back on April 15.

Right-hander Maggie Johnson threw seven shutout innings with four strikeouts to lead the Lions to a 4-0 victory, their 13th win of the year.

Since then, however, the team has lost five straight games, falling to 13-29 on the year.

The Light Blue has an 0-3 record in games against Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponents this season, with a pair of losses at home to Rider on April 3 and a loss to Siena on March 21 during the Rebel Games spring tournament last month in Florida. However, it can capitalize with a big showing against an Iona team that currently sits in the basement of the MAAC.

The Gaels have just one win in their last 11 games, and are currently 9-28 overall with a 3-7 record against MAAC opponents. The team lost its only contest against the Ivy League this year, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Yale on March 16 in Florida.

Iona is led by right-hander Becky Riccitelli. The senior has compiled a 5-12 record with a 3.68 ERA in 17 starts and 104 2/3 innings pitched. On offense, freshman outfielder Erin Kyle leads her team with a .287 batting average, two home runs, and 11 RBI in 108 plate appearances. Kyle headlines a team that typically struggles offensively, hitting only .224 in 37 games this season.

Columbia can take advantage of Iona’s past futility with a win before it enters the final Ivy League series of the season this weekend against Penn.

The teams will square off on Thursday, April 18 at 3 and 5 p.m. at the Columbia Softball Stadium.