Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
By:
Josh FullerDAHLONEGA, Ga. – Seventh-ranked North Georgia scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch to defeat the 28th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team 4-3 in 10 innings Friday. The first game of the three-game Peach Belt Conference series took place at Bob Stein Stadium in Dahlonega, Ga.
The game was dominated by the two starters as UNG held a 2-1 lead after seven innings. However, the Cougars were finally able to get to Nighthawk starter Brandon Agar in the eighth.
Ryan Ihle led the inning off with a single to centerfield before
Hunter Bowling sacrificed him to second. After
Tyler Fichter drew a walk, North Georgia went to the bullpen for Chris Cobb. Cobb didn't have any luck walking
Blake Edwards before being lifted for Taylor Keinat. Things continued to go downhill for the Nighthawks as Keinat tried to pickoff Edwards at first, but his throw went wild allowing Ihle to score the tying run.
After
Jackson Oliver walked to load the bases,
Matt Nettles gave the Cougars the lead on a RBI groundout.
North Georgia (10-2, 4-0 PBC) threatened in the eighth putting runners on second and third with just one out, but
Kolton Ingram slammed the door shut with a strikeout and a weak grounder.
Columbus State wasn't able to pitch out of troubles in the ninth though. Two walks and a single loaded the bases for North Georgia with just one out. Cougar closer
Justin Evans got a strikeout for the second out of the frame and was nearly out of the inning before issuing a full count walk to Kevin Krupp that tied the game at three.
The Cougars were able to get a runner into scoring position in the top of the 10th but UNG pitched out of the trouble.
In the bottom of the 10th, Joshua Profit singled to lead off the inning before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a failed pickoff attempt, Profit scored on a wild pitch to give the Nighthawks the win.
Profit began the game's scoring in the second with a RBI single. However, CSU came right back in the fourth as Oliver hit his second homer of the year to even the game. UNG regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh on a Sam Tidaback two-out double.
Columbus State starter
Caleb Kutsche threw very well coming off a complete game performance last week. Kutsche went seven allowing two runs on seven hits. The junior struck out five and now has thrown at least seven innings in each of his last three starts.
Oliver and Fichter were the lone two Cougars to pick up two hits on the day. Oliver was 2-for-4 with the homer while Fichter went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Oliver, Edwards (1-for-4) and Ihle (1-for-4) all extended their hitting steaks to 12 games.
For North Georgia, Agar allowed three runs (two earned) in 7.1 innings. Logan Burt (1-0) picked up the win for the Nighthawks.
Tidaback was 2-for-5 with a double and RBI while Connor Hoover was 2-for-3 with a double.
The two teams will be back at it Saturday at 1 p.m.
