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By: Stephen Williams

WEST POINT, Ga. – Getting just beyond the five-inning minimum, the 13^th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team defeated Point University 7-2 on Wednesday night. The game was played at the West Point Park Baseball Field.
 
The victory was the 15^th consecutive for the Cougars who improved to 37-10 on the season.
 
Columbus State would get all of the runs it would need in the very first inning. Jackson Oliver led off the game with a triple to centerfield and would score on a Mike McClellan single. Christian Miller and Blake Edwards followed with singles of their own, with Edwards' knock driving in a second run.
 
After the second out was made, Justin Evans loaded the bases with the fifth hit of the inning and Hunter Bowling capped the scoring with a two-run single to right.
 
Point (25-26) got its only two runs of the game in the bottom of the second, but the Cougars would answer back with two in the third.
 
It was Bowling that would deliver again with two outs, singling home Edwards to stretch the CSU lead back out to three. Tyler Ficther then made it a 6-2 game on his only hit of the game.
 
The Cougars found their final run in the fourth as Edwards continued his hot day at the plate. Miller walked with two down and Edwards drove him home with an opposite-field double.
 
After a Ryan Ihle single leading off the sixth inning, lightning forced a stoppage in play. The game was eventually called, giving the Cougars the win.
 
Eight of the nine Cougar starters had a hit in the game, led by a 3-for-3 performance from Edwards. Bowling had a pair of hits and drove home three. Ihle and McClellan each extended their hitting streak to 15 games, while Oliver made it 11 straight.
 
Shawn Thomas (1-1) earned his first win of the season in his first start of the year. The senior gave up two runs on three hits in three innings of work. Kolton Ingram held the Skyhawks scoreless over the final two frames.
 
Columbus State will now get ready to close out the season with a three-game series against UNC Pembroke. The opening game will be Friday night at 6 p.m. at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.