ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell softball team will attempt to extend its league in the Ivy League South Division and will also thank its six seniors for their contributions to the program when it plays host to Columbia this weekend. The two teams will square off on Saturday, April 14 at 12:30 p.m., then will celebrate Senior Day prior to its doubleheader on Sunday, April 15 at 12:30 p.m. at Niemand*Robison Field.

The Big Red will play its last home games of the season on Sunday, and will honor seniors Morgan Cawley, Erica Gaeta, Erin Keene, Lauren Marx, Jenna Stoller and Katie Watts prior to the first game. The group has helped Cornell to a four-year record of 122-65-1, including 53-14 in Ivy League play. The group has been part of three Ivy League South Division championship teams, and two squads that won the Ancient Eight title and advanced to the NCAA tournament.

Cornell's young offense has picked up the pace after getting off to a slow start batting .321 with 15 HR as a team over the last nine games to raise its season average to .259. Freshmen Linda Laeufer (.309, 3 HR), the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week, is hitting better than .300, while seven other regulars are hitting .250 or better. Senior Erin Keene (.299, 6 HR, 17 RBI) and sophomore Lauren Bucolo (.280, 6 HR, 17 RBI) are tied for the team lead in home runs. Sophomore Jenny Edwards (.250, 5 HR, 18 RBI) paces the team in RBI.

Coming into the season, the big question was how the Big Red pitching would respond after the loss of two-time Ivy League Pitcher of the Year Elizabeth Dalrymple to graduation. The group of seniors Lauren Marx (5-2, 3 SVs, 2.62 ERA) and Jenna Stoller (2-7, 3.85 ERA) and sophomore Alyson Onyon (7-3, 4.20 ERA) have provided the answer, getting it done in the circle, keeping the Big Red in every game.

The winner of three straight South division titles, the Big Red has gone 82-25 in league play since the league went to a 20-game Ivy League slate in 2007. It will look to improve on those marks this weekend.

After going 27-22-1 a season ago and claiming a third consecutive South Division title, Blood's squad will be looking for its 16th consecutive season with at least 25 wins. Blood is the all-time winningest coach in Cornell athletics history for a single sport and enters the weekend with 558 triumphs (558-258-2) and five conference crowns.

The Big Red will open the weekend attempting to defend one of the largest home field advantages of any team in the country over the last four seasons. Cornell has posted a 59-17 mark overall and a 38-8 record against Ivy League opponents during that span. The Big Red is 17-8 at home in its last 25 games.

Columbia (9-22, 3-5 Ivy) enters the weekend with four hitters batting .286 or better, led by Tristin Moore (.311, 2 HR, 10 RBI) and Jennifer Bergeron (.302, 10 R). As a team, the Lions are hitting .259 as a team, but have hit just six home runs in 31 contests while allowing 17. Opponents are batting a robust .330, while the Lions' pitching staff has posted a 4.21 ERA. Kalli Schultea (3-10, 3.58 ERA) and Brooke Darling (6-11, 4.01 ERA) have done most of the work in the circle. After being shut out twice by Harvard, Columbia answered back last weekend with a sweep of Dartmouth, winning 9-0 and 7-1. Head coach Kayla Noonan is in her 10th season directing the Columbia program and has posted a 185-275-1 record. The Lions returned five starters from last year's 17-29 squad.

Cornell leads the all-time series against Columbia 25-9, with the teams splitting a four-game set last season in New York City. The Big Red has won 19 of the last 23 meeting between the teams.