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By: Stephen Williams

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – One night after an extra-inning defeat, the 28^th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team rebounded with an 8-6 win over seventh-ranked North Georgia to tie the series at one game apiece. The game was played at Bob Stein Stadium in Dahlonega, Ga.
 
Albert Harless (2-0) picked up the victory for the Cougars, allowing four runs over 7.1 innings. The right-hander struck out a season-high eight hitters on the day. Freshman Kolton Ingram earned his first save of the year, tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
 
"It was good to see the guys respond after a tough loss last night," head coach Greg Appleton said. "Now we have the opportunity to win the series tomorrow and make this a good weekend."
 
North Georgia (10-3, 4-1 PBC) struck first getting a solo home run from Sam Tidaback in the bottom of the first inning. The Nighthawks then added on in the third as Tidaback picked up his second RBI of the game.
 
The Cougars cut the deficit in half with one swing in the fourth. Senior Christian Miller hit his second home run of the season, a two-out solo shot, to bring CSU within one run.
 
The game remained 2-1 until the sixth, when Columbus State (11-3, 4-1) surged in front.
 
Jackson Oliver led off the frame with a single to right field before moving into scoring position on a groundout. Mike McClellan tied the game at two apiece with a double into the gap, chasing UNG starter Steven Bower from the game.
 
Lake Hart then delivered the big blow in the sixth with a two-out, two-run triple that put the Cougars in front 4-2. Two batters later, Tyler Fichter singled home Hart to cap off the four-run output.
 
CSU put three more on the board in the eighth thanks to the long ball. McClellan homered to start the inning and Ryan Ihle launched a two-run shot later in the frame to stretch the lead out to 8-2.
 
UNG made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth as Tidaback continued his good day with an RBI double. Trevor Sams then hit a three-run home run to pull the Nighthawks within two.
 
Chaz Wilson shut the inning down from there, striking the next two hitters out to send the game to the ninth.
 
In the final frame, Ingram allowed a one-out single to bring the tying run to the plate. However, the freshman induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and put CSU back in the win column.
 
Blake Edwards, Fichter, Ihle and McClellan each turned in two-hit games for the Cougars. McClellan, Ihle and Hart drove in two runs apiece.

Edwards, Oliver and Ihle all extended their hitting streaks to 13 games. 
 
Columbus State and North Georgia will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.