Softball takes series opener against Columbia, 3-2

Friday, April 15

Providence, R.I.

4:00 p.m.

Brown University

12-19, 4-9

Columbia

9-21, 5-8

Columbia

BROWN

Softball takes series opener against Columbia, 3-2

4/15/2022 7:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Brown softball did just enough to earn a 3-2 win over Columbia in the first game of a three-game series on Friday (April 15). The Bears managed just one hit but got clutch pitching to secure the victory.

Brown (12-19, 4-9 Ivy) got off to a quick start in the first inning as both Nicole Kim and Vanessa Alexander both walked to start the game. After two stolen bases Brown was in business with runners on second and third and no outs. Two batters later, Elayna Tsiouplis roped a double to the left center field wall to score both Kim and Alexander.

After the hit by Tsiouplis, Brown's offense went cold as Columbia retired the next 14 batters.

While the Bears could not get runners on base, Brown starter Lauren Innerst made things difficult to keep the Lions off the scoreboard.

In the first inning, Columbia (9-21, 5-8 Ivy) loaded the bases with one out but Innerst got a strikeout and a flyout to end the inning.

In the second inning, Columbia's leadoff batter reached on a single. During the next at bat, catcher Moe Kastens picked off the runner at first base. Back-to-back walks and two passed balls again put runners at second and third but Innerst buckled down with another strikeout and lineout to end the inning.

Columbia continued to threated with two runners reaching in the third and one in the fourth but each time, Innerst had an answer, keeping the Lions off the scoreboard.

The magic ran out in the fifth as a two-out double scored a run cutting Brown's lead in half but Innerst got out of the inning with the lead. All told, Innerst went five innings, scattered six hits and struck out six batters while stranding nine batters.

Jodie Aguirre entered in relief in the sixth inning and allowed the first three runners to reach, loading the bases with no outs. A fly ball to center brought home the tying run but Aguirre picked up a strikeout and a flyout to Kat Clum in left to leave two more runners on base.

Brown finally got through against starter Jordan Hill in the bottom of the sixth with Kim drawing her second walk of the game. Alexander moved Kim to second with a sac bunt putting a runner in scoring position. In the next at bat, Meghan Gormley, who entered as a pinch hitter, fouled off six pitches and on the 10th pitch of the at bat, hit a fly ball to left. The ball was dropped by Columbia's left fielder and the error allowed Kim to score and put Brown back up 3-2.

In the seventh inning, Aguirre shut down the Lions with back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout to end the game.

Brown's one hit in the victory is the fewest in a win in the last ten seasons.

UP NEXT
Brown will take on Columbia in a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 12:30 p.m.

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