Columbia Starts Year With 1-3 Road Trip

The Columbia baseball team lost its 2007 season opener this Saturday against St. Mary's College in Moraga, Cal. The Lions dropped three out of the four games played at Louis Guisto Field this weekend, but managed to hold their own against a team that has already defeated two ranked teams this season.

The Lions lost the first game of their Saturday doubleheader by a margin of 12-1. The Gaels scored their 12 runs on 18 hits that included a home run by right fielder Eric Cattoni. Junior designated hitter Dan Neczypor drove sophomore first baseman Ron Williams in with a sacrifice fly to record the only Columbia run of the game.

St. Mary ace Sean Gleason threw seven innings and struck out eight to earn his third victory of the season. Columbia's starter, senior Daniel Bagjer, was tagged with five runs in just three innings and took the loss. All four Columbia pitchers who made an appearance gave up at least one run.

Columbia took an early lead in game two when senior right fielder Andrew Ward scored shortstop Craig Rodwogin on an error. The Gaels then struck back in the fifth inning to tie the game at one. The game remained tied until the Lions added two runs in the eighth inning on RBIs from Rodwogin and junior second baseman Henry Perkins. But St. Mary's tied the game in the bottom of the ninth, snatching victory from the Lions and sending the game into extra innings. A tie was called after the 10th inning due to darkness.

Junior Columbia pitcher Bill Purdy threw nine strong innings and allowed just two earned runs in the no-decision. Freshman Clay Bartlett threw a scoreless inning in relief to end the game.

On Sunday the Gaels again came out hitting and outslugged the Lions 12-7. Their 13-hit attack included RBIs from eight of the 14 batters. Columbia was led by senior Andrew Ward, who had three RBIs on the day.

Senior Andrew Walther gave up five runs in just one and two-thirds innings. Sophomore Joey Mizzoni was the only Lions pitcher to hold the Gaels, throwing a hitless inning and a third to end the game.

The Gaels bullpen faltered later in the game as the Lions scored three runs in the seventh and added four in the ninth only to fall short.

In the second game of Sunday's contest, St. Mary's came out swinging again, scoring two runs in the first inning while adding a third run in the second inning. The three runs would be all the Gaels needed, as they shut out Columbia for their third win out of the four games.

Junior Henry Perkins pitched the complete six innings, giving up all three earned runs while scattering just six hits. Anthony Aliotti threw the complete seven innings for the Gaels, giving up just five hits while overpowering the Lions with 12 strikeouts.

Saint Mary's improved to 12-8-1 on the weekend while Columbia fell to 0-3-1. Although the Lions did not emerge from the weekend with a win, they looked promising against St. Mary's, a team already in its second month of play.

The Lions were without junior pitcher John Baumann, who concluded the basketball season this weekend.

Columbia will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on The Citadel for a three-game series.