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By:
Josh Fuller
FLORENCE, S.C . –
Albert Harless fired a complete game as the fifth-ranked and top-seeded Columbus State University baseball team edged fifth-seeded Augusta 3-2 in Pool A play at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The tournament is being held at Sparrow Stadium in Florence, S.C.
Harless (7-2) scattered 10 hits over the nine-inning effort surrendering just the two runs. He struck out three while not walking a batter. The junior righty blanked Augusta over the final seven innings.
"That is one of the most clutch performances I've seen in quite a while," said head coach
Greg Appleton. "In a must win game, Albert gave us everything he had and he turned in one of our better pitched games of the year."
With the win, CSU (40-12) moves to 1-1 in pool play while Augusta is now 0-2. Fourth-seeded Georgia College is 2-0 in Pool A while UNG is also 1-1 with the Cougars.
It was an inauspicious start for the Cougars and Harless as Augusta began the bottom of the first with back-to-back doubles. Clint Hardy snuck one down the left field line to lead the frame off while Hunter Boose followed doubling the first pitch he saw right back down the left field line to put the Jaguars up 1-0.
After Harless got out of the first, the Cougars answered with a one in the second.
Blake Edwards and
Matt Nettles both reached with one-out singles before
Lake Hart drove a ball to the outfield for a sacrifice fly.
Each team wasted run-scoring chances in the next half innings, but Augusta retook the lead in the bottom of the third. Harless got the first two outs of the inning before Jim Wagner hit a solo home run to right to put the Jags up 2-1.
In the fifth,
Justin Evans battled back from a 1-2 count to draw a one-out walk bring
Tyler Fichter to the plate. Fichter pushed a bunt between the mound and the charging first baseman to record a hit and to put two on for the top of the Cougar order.
In a 2-2 count,
Jackson Oliver blooped a single to right field that allowed Evans to score to tie the game. On the play, the speedy Fichter never hesitated after a throwing error by the right fielder as he rounded third and scored the go-ahead run.
Harless would then continue working his magic. The righty worked around a one-double in the fifth and later got an inning ending double play in the seventh with two on.
After the Cougars stranded a runner in scoring position in the eighth and ninth, Augusta tried to put together one last rally. The Jags had a runner on second with just one out before Harless went to work. The junior got a fly out before striking out the final batter of the game.
Ryan Ihle (2-for-4), Nettles (2-for-4) and Fichter (2-for-2) all had two-hit days for the Cougars. Both Evans and Fichter scored a run while Oliver and Hart picked up the lone two RBIs for CSU.
Tristan Jones (7-5) also pitched well for Augusta. Jones tossed eight innings allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits.
Hardy was 3-for-5 for the Jags.
Columbus State will now wrap up pool play as the Cougars take on Georgia College on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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