CLEARWATER, Fla. – Lafayette softball's six-game swing in Florida came to an end on Tuesday afternoon with a 4-1 loss to Columbia in the U.S.F. Softball Series. Brooke Wensel had three hits, including a first-inning double, for the Leopards.
 
Columbia (7-9) took control of the game early on with a run in the second on an Amanda Nishihira double and three in the third on an RBI-groundout by Alexandra Yule and a Jordan Townsend sac fly.
 
The Leopards put runners on in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings before finally breaking through with a run in the top of the seventh. Three straight singles by Hannah Lee, Malori Pojar and Ellen McDonnell loaded the bases with no outs. Columbia starter Madison Canby uncorked a wild offering that scored Lee and advanced Pojar and McDonnell 60 feet.
 
Canby then enticed Addison Goldwait to ground out and Paige Grover to fly out before ending the game when Erica Hanson grounded out to second.

Canby struck out two while allowing one run on eight hits over seven innings. Kinzi Van Wyk gave up four runs (three earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts and four walks for the Leopards.
 
Lafayette (2-16) will open its home slate on Thursday, hosting Fairfield in a single game at 2 p.m.