PHILADELPHIA— The University of Pennsylvania softball team dropped both games of today's doubleheader against Columbia in New York earlier this afternoon.

Final: Columbia 9, Penn 1 (after 5 innings) 

Penn swung their bats early, putting one run on the board with a double from Rachel Riley in the first inning. Columbia responded in their half of the inning, scoring three runs of their own after a Penn error and a double by Lions shortstop Juju O'Brien. The Lions added on in the second inning after a single from Cami Neal knocked in Kyra Mason.

Columbia sealed the game in the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Caroline Palys and a two-run double by Neal, earning the Lions a 9-1 victory.

Final: Columbia 5, Penn 3
The Quakers came out swinging in game two, with a single by Gigi Ganje to bring Megan Huang home to score in the first inning. Columbia picked up where they left off in the first game, Cami Neal sending a double into left-center field to bring home Kyra Mason to even the score. Sarah Mikami later sent a single down the left field line, allowing Neal and Payton Shimansky to cross the plate. The fourth run for the Lions came when Olivia Madkins was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Maddie Souza jogging home. At the end of the first inning, the Red and Blue trailed, 4-1.

The fifth and final run for the Lions came in the fifth inning, Mason sending a single to left center to score Eleni Katsivalis. The Quakers stayed in it in the sixth, Alexis Youngren sending a sacrifice fly out to left field that allowed Ganje to tally the second run for Penn. Continuing to fight in the seventh, Ganje singled through the right side to bring Huang home for run number three. Despite Penn's offensive efforts late, Columbia hung on to secure the victory.

Up Next
The Quakers return to action tomorrow afternoon, closing out their conference series against Columbia at 12:30 p.m.

For the latest on Penn Softball, follow @Penn_Softball on X and Instagram, and on the web at PennAthletics.com.

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