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By: Stephen Williams

COLUMBUS – Christening its newly renovated stadium, the Columbus State University baseball team rallied for two in the ninth to defeat Albany State 8-7 on Wednesday night. The game was the first played in Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
 
After giving up three runs in the top of the ninth, Columbus State (3-1) found some two-out magic. Mike McClellan singled to lead off the frame, but the next two Cougars were retired.
 
With just one out left to work with, Ryan Ihle doubled over the centerfielder's head, allowing pinch runner Juan Montana to race around from first to tie the game. Blake Edwards then sent the Cougar fans home happy with a ringing double off the left field wall bringing Ihle across the plate and putting the Cougars in the win column.
 
"It's always nice to win," said head coach Greg Appleton. "It came down to our last out and I'm glad that we were able to get it done.
 
"The name of the game is score more runs than the other guys and every win counts."
 
Albany State (0-5) came rolling out of the gates in the very first inning. The Golden Rams sent seven hitters to the plate, scoring three runs on four hits against Cougar starter Kyle Peals.
 
The right hander would settle in from there though, tossing three straight scoreless innings before exiting after the fourth.
 
Columbus State struck for the first time in the bottom of the second. McClellan again reached base to start an inning, this time drawing a walk. The duo of Ihle and Edwards got it done again with two outs pairing together a double and single to put the Cougars on the board.
 
Hunter Bowling got the rally going in the third with a bunt single down the third base line. Tyler Fichter pulled the Cougars closer two batters later, as the junior laced a run-scoring triple into the right field corner. Matt Nettles quickly tied the game for CSU, lacing a ball to right field that went for a sacrifice fly.
 
The two offenses then went quiet with scoreless frames through the middle innings before the Cougars busted through in the seventh. Bowling walked to start the inning and Jackson Oliver reached on a bunt single.
 
Fichter advanced the runners to second and third with a sacrifice and Nettles delivered once more, this time with a double to the wall in right to give CSU a 5-3 lead.
 
The Golden Rams pulled within one with a run in the eighth, but the Cougars answered with one of their own in the bottom half. Edwards snuck a double inside the third base bag, moved to third on a Bowling sacrifice and came across the plate on a wild pitch.
 
Columbus State was just three outs away from a third straight victory entering the ninth inning, but the Golden Rams had other ideas. ASU put the first three runners on base and tied the game with a one-out single.
 
After an intentional walk loaded the bases, a soft ground ball to second brought home the go-ahead run and set up the Cougar dramatics in the bottom half.
 
Justin Evans (2-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen, allowing three runs (two earned) in 1.1 innings. Chaz Wilson made his Cougar debut on Wednesday, working 3.2 innings and allowing just one unearned run.
 
John Paul Barnard (0-1) took the loss for the Golden Rams, allowing the two runs while recording just two outs in the ninth.
 
Columbus State will be at home again this weekend as the Cougars get set for a three-game series against Lynn. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.