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By: Josh Fuller

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The 17^th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team managed just one run on five hits in a 5-1 loss to Flagler Saturday. The third and final game of the Peach Belt Conference series took place at Drysdale Field in St. Augustine, Fla.

The Cougars scored just four runs in the three-game series after entering the weekend as the nation's second-highest scoring team.

"Flagler has a great pitching staff and kept us off balance all weekend," said CSU head coach Greg Appleton. "We need to regroup this week and come back out there on Wednesday and play good and solid game."

Flagler (18-11, 7-8 PBC) scored a single run in the second, third and fourth innings to jump out 3-0 in the early portion of the game. Igor Baez led off the second with a double down the left field line before the Saints played small ball to move him to third. With one out, Jake Hathaway put the ball in play to allow Baez to score the game's opening run.

After CSU got its first hit in the game in the third, FC went up 2-0 with one swing of the bat. With two outs, Kolin McMillen hit a solo home run off of Cougar starter Brandon Koehler to right field to add on to the Flagler lead.

In the fourth, Columbus State (22-10, 9-6) had a critical opportunity to tie or take the lead. Matt Nettles had a one-out single before Mike McClellan walked to put two on. A balk advanced both runners and Chris Daniel drew a walk to load the bases with still just one down.

However, FC starter Dustin Dye pitched out of the trouble to keep the Cougars off the board.

The Saints continued to add on as they pushed one across in their half of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Hathaway. 

Down 4-0 in the eighth, CSU attempted one last rally. Tyler Fichter singled to begin the inning before moving to second on a groundout. Jackson Oliver would follow with a single right back up the middle to chase Fichter from second. Oliver would steal second, but nothing would come of it as the next two Cougar batters went down.

Dye (4-3) pitched well for Flagler pitching six scoreless innings. He allowed just three hits while striking out four. Kyle Schackne threw the final three innings to record his third save of the year.

Koehler (6-1) took his first loss of the year after surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits. Robert Hayes pitched a perfect inning of relief for the Cougars.

Columbus State will return home to host Auburn Montgomery on Wednesday, March 30. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.