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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – Ryan Ihle hit a two-run single right back up the middle to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the eighth to lift the 19^th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team to an 8-6 victory over Armstrong State on Saturday. The three-game Peach Belt Conference series is being held at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
 
The Cougars held a 5-4 lead entering the eighth before Armstrong struck for a pair of runs. After the leadoff batter was retired, a hit batter and a Chandler Corley single put a couple of runners aboard. A fly out would get CSU the second out of the inning before a walk loaded the bases.
 
With the game on the line, Berry Aldridge pulled a single through the left side of the infield to score two and put the Pirates up 6-5.
 
In the bottom of the inning, Matt Nettles and Grant Berry drew back-to-back walks before Armstrong made a pitching change. Hunter Bowling would come to the plate and hit what could have been an inning ending double play to Stetson Smith at third. However, Smith's throw to second pulled Cody Sherlin off the bag. Trying to get an out at first, Sherlin's throw was off the mark allowing Nettles to score on the play and Berry to move to third.
 
After Jackson Oliver drew a walk to load the bases, Ihle came up with the heroics to send the Cougars to the win.
 
"This was another win that shows the resiliency of this team," said head coach Greg Appleton. "We led almost from the start and to lose the lead late and still have enough to come from behind shows the heart of this team.
 
"We have to get ready for a long day tomorrow because we can't take a day off when you are down to your final games."
 
Armstrong (15-27, 6-22 PBC) scored the game's opening run just three batters into the game and had the chance to do more damage. However, Cougar starter Brandon Koehler limited the damage to just one after striking out the side.
 
It didn't take Columbus State (34-10, 19-6) long to respond with a pair of runs of their own. Ihle legged out a bunt single before Mike McClellan was hit by a pitch to put the senior into scoring position. Christian Miller followed with a single up the middle to tie the game at one while Blake Edwards drew a walk to load the bases. With two outs, a wild pitch allowed McClellan to scoot across for the second run of the inning.
 
In the bottom of the second, Oliver made it a 3-1 game after driving home Bowling with a single.

The Pirates once again missed out on a big scoring chance in the third, loading the bases. Spencer Harvey was able to bring home a run with a single, but Koehler induced a ground ball to escape the jam.
 
After Armstrong tied the game with a JT Phillips solo homer in the fifth, CSU retook the lead in its half of the inning. Oliver and Ihle started the inning off with consecutive singles before Oliver swiped third. The steal paid off as McClellan flied a ball to right to bring home the go-ahead run.
 
The Pirates didn't go down quietly though retying the game at four in the seventh on a bloop single by Kendrick Thompson into right-centerfield.
 
However, it just took one swing of the bat by McClellan to put the Cougars back in front as he hit a line drive homer just over the left field wall to put CSU ahead 5-4 in their half of the seventh. It was the senior's 43rd career home run.
 
Thanks to the eighth inning rally, CSU extended its season-high winning streak to 12 games and moved its magic number to win the PBC title outright to four.
 
Ihle had a three-hit day as the senior went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs to increase his hitting streak to 12. Oliver was 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI while Bowling was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. McClellan also extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his solo homer.
 
Koehler had a no-decision after tossing five innings. He struck out three while allowing three runs on seven hits. Justin Evans (4-1) earned the victory after 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
 
Columbus State and Armstrong will conclude the three-game series Sunday afternoon with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.