HOUSTON -- Columbia outslugged No. 6 Houston 12-7 in the series finale Sunday afternoon to earn a split of the four-game slate. The Lions (2-2) recorded 20 hits in the game, led by a 4-for-5 performance by Will Savage.
Joey Falcone drove in four runs and was 2-for-5.
A pair of errors got the Lions on the board in the top of the first. Will Savage reached on a throwing error to lead the game off and a walk and fielder’s choice put runners on the corners. With two outs, Columbia ran a delayed steal play that brought in Savage.
The Cougars received RBI hits from Connor Wong and Ian Rice in the bottom of the frame to go ahead 2-1.
That lead was short-lived after Nick Maguire jacked a solo shot to begin the second inning and Columbia tacked on two more in the third.
Lane Robinette, Savage and Jordan Serena all singled, filling up the base paths with no outs. Robb Paller followed with a double to the wall to bring in two runs, giving the Lions a 4-2 advantage.
Houston batted through the order in the fourth and put up five runs on four hits to regain the lead 7-4 only to see the Lions rally again.
Gus Craig started the fifth by getting hit by a pitch and Maguire ripped a double to move Craig to third. Randell Kanemaru just beat out a throw on a roller to third to bring in the lead runner. With one away, Joey Falcone belted a double to even the score and Savage plated the go-ahead run with a bloop single to rightfield.
Falcone provided some insurance in the top of the ninth, belting his second long ball of the season over the centerfield wall. Columbia added two more thanks to an RBI single by Paller and an error later in the inning.
Ty Wiest earned the decision (1-0) out of the bullpen, throwing 2.2 innings of one-run ball. Ryan Marks picked up a rare 10-out save.
Robinette, Serena and Paller all recorded three hits.
