WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Interstat) — Drew Nelson pitched eight innings of six-hit, shutout ball and Christian Butera drove in two runs with a sixth-inning single as Brown defeated Columbia 4-2 on Sunday afternoon to win the Ivy League championship at the 2026 tournament.

Nelson, a right-hander, struck out two, walked one and allowed no earned runs on 7 hits and 2 runs but both runs were unearned after errors in the ninth. He threw 111 pitches and retired the side in order in the first, third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings. He gave up a leadoff single in the first and a single in the fourth but escaped both frames without damage. The only significant threat came in the top of the fifth, when Hunter Snyder singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but Nelson induced a foul-out double play that extinguished the rally.

Brown improved to 23-20 overall, while Columbia fell to 15-24-1.

The decisive rally came in the bottom of the sixth inning with the score tied at 1-1. Columbia starter Will Harrigan had allowed no hits through the first five innings but walked four batters and struck out five. He began the sixth by striking out Alex Benevento, but Dj Dillehay singled to center field. Logan Meusy followed with a double down the right-field line, putting runners at second and third. Columbia intentionally walked Mark Henshon to load the bases. Butera then lined a single to right field, scoring Dillehay and Meusy to make it 3-1. After a pitching change to Evan Kleinhans, Brandon Chang laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Henshon and pushed Butera to second, stretching the lead to 4-1.

Columbia cut the gap to 4-2 in the top of the ninth. With one out and a runner on first, Hunter Snyder singled to center field to drive in Jaden Santiago, who had reached on an error. Tate Vogler then grounded into a fielder’s choice that plated another unearned run, but Brown closer Christian Keel got Jack Kail to ground out to first base to end the game.

Butera finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs. Meusy went 1 for 1 with a double and a walk. Henshon drew two walks, one intentional, and scored a run. Dillehay singled twice and scored a run.

For Columbia, Snyder went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Vogler was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Charlie Slabaugh singled and walked. Columbia’s seven hits were spread across six batters.

Harrigan took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits over 4 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five, but the Brown offense broke through in the sixth. Kleinhans threw 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, striking out one and allowing no hits. Columbia used four pitchers total; Jack Korthas started and gave up one run on one hit in the first inning before being lifted.

Brown also received a scoreless inning of relief from Keel, who allowed one hit and struck out one while earning the save.

The game was the third meeting of the season between the Ivy League rivals. Brown won two of three, including a 16-8 victory on April 29 and a 6-1 win on April 18. Columbia won the other contest, 11-2, on April 18.

Nelson’s performance earned him star honors for Brown. He allowed just six hits and did not walk a batter after the first inning, when he issued a free pass to the leadoff man. He retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced before exiting after the eighth.

Columbia mounted a final threat in the ninth against Keel. Owen Estabrook reached on an error by the third baseman to start the inning. After a strikeout, Jimmy Chadwell walked. Snyder singled to center, scoring Estabrook. With the bases loaded after a walk to Slabaugh, Vogler hit a grounder to shortstop that forced out Slabaugh at second but allowed Chadwell to score. The tying run advanced to third, but Kail grounded out to first to end the game.

Brown next faces Yale on the road Sunday evening. Columbia closes its season with the tournament loss.