Dartmouth Handed 5-4 Defeat at Columbia in Ivy Opener

Saturday, March 23

New York, N.Y.

2:00 PM

Dartmouth College

3-15, 0-1

Columbia

8-10, 1-0

Dartmouth

Columbia

Junior Tessa Grossman

Photo by: Brad Helton

Dartmouth Handed 5-4 Defeat at Columbia in Ivy Opener

3/23/2019 4:54:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Tessa Grossman hit her first career home run in the fourth inning

By: Mike Miezejeski

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Dartmouth had a 4-2 lead after five innings, but it was Columbia who scored three runs in the sixth to hand the Big Green a 5-4 loss in its Ivy League opener in New York City Saturday afternoon.

The Big Green fall to 3-15 (0-1 Ivy), while the Lions improve to 8-10 (1-0 Ivy). Tessa Grossman hammered her first career home run in the fourth inning, while Micah Schroder finished 2-3 at the plate with a triple, a double and a run scored. Morgan Martinelli had an RBI double and Schae Nelson also had a hit on the day.

Columbia got on the board first when Maria Pagane led off the first inning with a base hit and Max Ortega drove in her in with a single to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Dartmouth wasted no time to tie the game. Schorder started the second inning with a line drive triple down the right field line and Martinelli knocked her home with a double to left center.

Once again it was Schroder, starting the fourth inning with a bang, this time with a double to left field. Taylor Ward then got hit by a pitch which set things up for Grossman who launched a three-run dinger to left center to put the Big Green ahead, 4-1.

The Lions cut the Big Green lead in half with two outs in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Amanda Nishihira.

Columbia took control of the game in the sixth. A single and a walk put runners on first and second with one out. Jordan Towsend then doubled a runner home to make it a one-run game with two in scoring position. Nishihira came through again with a base hit, plating both runs to give the Lions a 5-4 advantage, which were the two runs needed to steal the win from Dartmouth.

Dartmouth and Columbia will play a doubleheader on Sunday as the Big Green look for a sweep of the day to take the series. First pitch for game one is at 11 a.m., while game two is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.