Lions Begin Postseason Play Thursday
NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team returns to the postseason for the fourth time under head coach Jennifer Teauge on Thursday when the Lions take on No. 2 seed Harvard. First pitch between the Lions and Crimson is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Cynthia Lynn Paul '94 Field in Princeton, N.J.
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5/5/2026 1:36:00 PM | Softball
Columbia takes on familiar foe in opening matchup of Ivy League Tournament
NEW YORK – The Columbia softball team returns to the postseason for the fourth time under head coach Jennifer Teauge on Thursday when the Lions take on No. 2 seed Harvard. First pitch between the Lions and Crimson is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Cynthia Lynn Paul '94 Field in Princeton, N.J.
Columbia (20-21, 12-9 Ivy) and the Crimson (21-21-1, 12-9 Ivy) square off for the fourth consecutive contest. Last weekend, the Crimson took two of three from the Lions at the Columbia Softball Stadium in a regular-season series that would decide who has the second or third seed in the tournament. The Crimson took the finale 6-3 after the two teams split on Saturday. Top-seed and tournament host, Princeton (30-13, 18-3 Ivy), battles Brown (20-22, 11-9 Ivy) in game one of the tournament at Noon.
Every game in this week's tournament will feature live stats and can be watched live on ESPN+.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 7
Game 1: Princeton vs. Brown – Noon (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 2: Harvard vs. Columbia – 2:30 p.m. (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Friday, May 8
Game 3: 10 a.m. – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 4: 12:30 p.m. – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 5: 3 p.m. - Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Saturday, May 9
Game 6: 12 p.m. – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 7: If necessary – 35 minutes following the conclusion of game 6 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
IN THE CIRCLE
The Lions' pitching staff continues to excel. As a team, the Lions boast a staff ERA of 3.86, which is second-best in the Ivy League. The Lions staff is holding opponents to .279. If the year were to end today, the Lions' 3.86 ERA would be the lowest team ERA in a full season since 2015. Leading the Lions in the circle is freshman Mads Lawson, who is one of the Nation's top first-year pitchers. She is 13-7 with a 2.39 ERA.
AT THE DISH
The Lions continue to swing a hot bat. After starting the year in the low .230s, the Lions are hitting .274 as a team, averaging 4.88 runs per game. Five regulars are hitting north of .280, with Juju O'Brien and Caylene Nguyen leading the way, hitting .344 and .337, respectively.
POSTSEASON BOUND
For the fourth time in the Teague Era, the Lions qualified for the postseason. It is the sixth time in program history that Columbia has played in the postseason, advancing to the ECAC Championship in 2001 and 2002. All-time, Columbia is 2-6 in the Ivy League Tournament. They are 1-3 against Harvard, 1-2 against Princeton, and 0-1 against Brown. Last time out, the Lions upset Harvard, winning 2-1 on a Caylene Nguyen double with 2-outs in the top of the seventh. They followed that up with a 2-1 loss to Brown in a pitcher's duel before getting beaten 10-1 in five innings to Princeton in the Lions' tournament finale. Nguyen was named to the Ivy League All-Tournament team for her stellar play.
20-20 VISION
Saturday's win over Harvard in game two of the series gave Columbia its 20th win of the season. The Lions have won 20 or more games in 14 of the 26 years as a program. Under Teague, Columbia has won 20 or more games in six of her 10 full seasons (2020 was canceled with the Lions 5-5 and 2021 was canceled altogether because of the COVID-19 Pandemic).
FAMILIAR FIELD
The Ivy League field is eerily reminiscent of the 2025 field with Princeton, Harvard, Columbia and Brown all repeating in the various seeds. This season, the Lions went 3-6 against the field. They took the series on the road at Brown, got swept at home by Princeton, and lost the Harvard series with Lawson making just one start. Columbia is hitting .230 against these three teams, averaging four runs per game.
BIG FLY
The Lions' power numbers are gaining momentum. Columbia has hit 40 home runs this season - 25 have come in the last 14 games. Columbia has hit a home run in 10 of their last 12 games. They have hit two or more in a game 10 times this season - five times since April 12. Columbia's 40 home runs are the second most in program history, eight shy of the record set in 2018. Under Jennifer Teague, the Lions have hit 30 or more home runs in six of her 10 full seasons. Before her arrival, the Lions had hit more than 20 only once - 28 in 2014. They have hit one or more home runs in nine of the previous 11 games.
HEAT CHECK
Sarah Mikami bounced back from a slow start to her senior campaign in a big way. After hitting near the Mendoza Line for most of February and March, Mikami hit a blistering .447 in April, going 17-for-38 with three doubles and five home runs. During that stretch, she hit .542 with runners on and .433 with runners in scoring position. She is a big part of Columbia's 9-3 record in April.
SUPER SOPH'S
The Lions' sophomore class has been stepping up in a big way in 2026. At the dish, the quartet of Caylene Nguyen, Alicia Marzouca, Kyra Mason, and Juju O'Brien is hitting .300 (132-for-440) and has scored 83 of the Lions' 200 runs (42%). They've also accounted for 24 of the Lions' 57 doubles, 21 of Columbia's 40 home runs and have driven in 94 of Columbia's 190 RBI.
SCORING EARLY...
44 percent of Columbia's run production has come in the first three innings this season. The Lions have scored 31 runs in the first, 27 in the second and 29 in the third. When Columbia scores first, they are 14-13 this season - weirdly, the Lions are just 6-11 when they score in the first inning.
FOUR OR FOUR...
Four runs make or break the Lions this season. Columbia is 15-4 when scoring four or more runs this season. When holding opponents to four or fewer, they are 16-8.
KATSIVALIS THE TABLE SETTER
Elen Katsivals has been a stud at the top of the lineup. The senior is hitting .321 with 29 runs scored. She has set career-bests in nearly every statistical category this year - but where she's having her biggest impact is with the bases empty and with 2-outs. As a leaoff hitter she's hitting .444 (24-for-54) with 2-outs she's hitting .441 (15-for-34).
ROAD LIONS
Columbia did not play its first home game until a 3-1 win over LIU on March 18. Playing on the road has been a strong point for the Lions this year; they are 16-15 in road and neutral contests. However, they are 16-5 since starting the year 0-10. In that 21-game stretch, the Lions are hitting .308 as a team, averaging 6.71 runs per contest. Caylene Nguyen is hitting north of .460 in those games. In the circle, the Lions boast a staff ERA of 3.09 and are holding opponents to a .243 average. Mads Lawson is 11-1 in the last 21 road/neutral games with a 1.64 ERA.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Softball by following the Lions on X (@CULionsSoftball), Instagram (@culionssoftball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaSoftball).
Columbia (20-21, 12-9 Ivy) and the Crimson (21-21-1, 12-9 Ivy) square off for the fourth consecutive contest. Last weekend, the Crimson took two of three from the Lions at the Columbia Softball Stadium in a regular-season series that would decide who has the second or third seed in the tournament. The Crimson took the finale 6-3 after the two teams split on Saturday. Top-seed and tournament host, Princeton (30-13, 18-3 Ivy), battles Brown (20-22, 11-9 Ivy) in game one of the tournament at Noon.
Every game in this week's tournament will feature live stats and can be watched live on ESPN+.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 7
Game 1: Princeton vs. Brown – Noon (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 2: Harvard vs. Columbia – 2:30 p.m. (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Friday, May 8
Game 3: 10 a.m. – Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 4: 12:30 p.m. – Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 5: 3 p.m. - Winner of Game 4 vs. Loser of Game 3 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Saturday, May 9
Game 6: 12 p.m. – Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
Game 7: If necessary – 35 minutes following the conclusion of game 6 (Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+)
IN THE CIRCLE
The Lions' pitching staff continues to excel. As a team, the Lions boast a staff ERA of 3.86, which is second-best in the Ivy League. The Lions staff is holding opponents to .279. If the year were to end today, the Lions' 3.86 ERA would be the lowest team ERA in a full season since 2015. Leading the Lions in the circle is freshman Mads Lawson, who is one of the Nation's top first-year pitchers. She is 13-7 with a 2.39 ERA.
AT THE DISH
The Lions continue to swing a hot bat. After starting the year in the low .230s, the Lions are hitting .274 as a team, averaging 4.88 runs per game. Five regulars are hitting north of .280, with Juju O'Brien and Caylene Nguyen leading the way, hitting .344 and .337, respectively.
POSTSEASON BOUND
For the fourth time in the Teague Era, the Lions qualified for the postseason. It is the sixth time in program history that Columbia has played in the postseason, advancing to the ECAC Championship in 2001 and 2002. All-time, Columbia is 2-6 in the Ivy League Tournament. They are 1-3 against Harvard, 1-2 against Princeton, and 0-1 against Brown. Last time out, the Lions upset Harvard, winning 2-1 on a Caylene Nguyen double with 2-outs in the top of the seventh. They followed that up with a 2-1 loss to Brown in a pitcher's duel before getting beaten 10-1 in five innings to Princeton in the Lions' tournament finale. Nguyen was named to the Ivy League All-Tournament team for her stellar play.
20-20 VISION
Saturday's win over Harvard in game two of the series gave Columbia its 20th win of the season. The Lions have won 20 or more games in 14 of the 26 years as a program. Under Teague, Columbia has won 20 or more games in six of her 10 full seasons (2020 was canceled with the Lions 5-5 and 2021 was canceled altogether because of the COVID-19 Pandemic).
FAMILIAR FIELD
The Ivy League field is eerily reminiscent of the 2025 field with Princeton, Harvard, Columbia and Brown all repeating in the various seeds. This season, the Lions went 3-6 against the field. They took the series on the road at Brown, got swept at home by Princeton, and lost the Harvard series with Lawson making just one start. Columbia is hitting .230 against these three teams, averaging four runs per game.
BIG FLY
The Lions' power numbers are gaining momentum. Columbia has hit 40 home runs this season - 25 have come in the last 14 games. Columbia has hit a home run in 10 of their last 12 games. They have hit two or more in a game 10 times this season - five times since April 12. Columbia's 40 home runs are the second most in program history, eight shy of the record set in 2018. Under Jennifer Teague, the Lions have hit 30 or more home runs in six of her 10 full seasons. Before her arrival, the Lions had hit more than 20 only once - 28 in 2014. They have hit one or more home runs in nine of the previous 11 games.
HEAT CHECK
Sarah Mikami bounced back from a slow start to her senior campaign in a big way. After hitting near the Mendoza Line for most of February and March, Mikami hit a blistering .447 in April, going 17-for-38 with three doubles and five home runs. During that stretch, she hit .542 with runners on and .433 with runners in scoring position. She is a big part of Columbia's 9-3 record in April.
SUPER SOPH'S
The Lions' sophomore class has been stepping up in a big way in 2026. At the dish, the quartet of Caylene Nguyen, Alicia Marzouca, Kyra Mason, and Juju O'Brien is hitting .300 (132-for-440) and has scored 83 of the Lions' 200 runs (42%). They've also accounted for 24 of the Lions' 57 doubles, 21 of Columbia's 40 home runs and have driven in 94 of Columbia's 190 RBI.
SCORING EARLY...
44 percent of Columbia's run production has come in the first three innings this season. The Lions have scored 31 runs in the first, 27 in the second and 29 in the third. When Columbia scores first, they are 14-13 this season - weirdly, the Lions are just 6-11 when they score in the first inning.
FOUR OR FOUR...
Four runs make or break the Lions this season. Columbia is 15-4 when scoring four or more runs this season. When holding opponents to four or fewer, they are 16-8.
KATSIVALIS THE TABLE SETTER
Elen Katsivals has been a stud at the top of the lineup. The senior is hitting .321 with 29 runs scored. She has set career-bests in nearly every statistical category this year - but where she's having her biggest impact is with the bases empty and with 2-outs. As a leaoff hitter she's hitting .444 (24-for-54) with 2-outs she's hitting .441 (15-for-34).
ROAD LIONS
Columbia did not play its first home game until a 3-1 win over LIU on March 18. Playing on the road has been a strong point for the Lions this year; they are 16-15 in road and neutral contests. However, they are 16-5 since starting the year 0-10. In that 21-game stretch, the Lions are hitting .308 as a team, averaging 6.71 runs per contest. Caylene Nguyen is hitting north of .460 in those games. In the circle, the Lions boast a staff ERA of 3.09 and are holding opponents to a .243 average. Mads Lawson is 11-1 in the last 21 road/neutral games with a 1.64 ERA.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
Stay up to date on all things Columbia Softball by following the Lions on X (@CULionsSoftball), Instagram (@culionssoftball) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaSoftball).
Highlights: SOFT | Columbia vs. Brown (Ivy Tournament)
Friday, May 08
Highlights: SOFT | vs. Harvard (Ivy Tournament)
Thursday, May 07
Highlights: SOFT | Columbia 12 - Penn 1
Sunday, April 26
Highlights: SOFT | Columbia at Cornell Game 1
Friday, April 17