Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Josh Fuller

FLORENCE, S.C. – The fifth-ranked and top-seeded Columbus State University baseball team capped off a championship sweep Sunday defeating sixth-ranked and second-seeded Lander 9-4 to capture the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship. The tournament was held at Sparrow Stadium in Florence, S.C.
 
It is the fifth PBC Tournament title in Columbus State history and the first since the 2010 season. It is also just the second time that CSU (42-12) has won both the PBC regular season and tournament titles with the other time coming in 1996.
 
"This has been an amazing journey," said head coach Greg Appleton. "This team really is a family and it shows on the field in how they play for each other.
 
"It is an amazing feeling that we won both titles and it is just a testament to these guys for always fighting and working hard to get better each and every day. Our journey isn't over yet and I know these guys want to accomplish even more next week."
 
With the win, the Cougars earn the PBC's automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional next week. CSU will have a chance to host and earn the region's number one seed after the victory over LU. Lander was first in the most recent region ranking followed by the Cougars. The full NCAA Tournament field will be announced Sunday night at 10 p.m.
 
After being held to just seven runs in two days, the Columbus State offense wasted no time in striking first. With two outs, CSU strung together three straight singles on three consecutive pitches to load the bases. Matt Nettles would then step up to the plate and rip a double down the left field line that scored a pair.
 
Lander (38-14) would have answered in the bottom of the first if it wasn't for Cougar centerfielder Tyler Fichter. With one out, Zach Daly cranked a ball to deep centerfield that Fichter tracked to the wall. The junior would then leap and rob what would have been a two-run homer. Cougar starter Brandon Koehler then retired the next two hitters to get out of the inning unharmed.
 
In the third, the Cougars made it 3-0 with one swing of the bat as Christian Miller hit his second homer of the tournament to right-center.
 
The Bearcats got on the board in their half of the third. After Matt White singled with one out and moved to second on a wild pitch, Daly singled him home to make it a 3-1 game.
 
The Cougar offensive finally exploded in the fourth scoring three runs to increase their lead out to 6-1. Justin Evans singled to get things started before Jackson Oliver was hit by a pitch with one out to put two on. Following a LU pitching change, Ryan Ihle banged a double off the left field wall to chase home both Evans and Oliver. Miller would add on, picking up his second RBI of the day with a two-out single through the left side of the infield.
 
Lander quickly answered making it a 6-3 game after four. With one out, the Bearcats had runners on second and third for Alex Conaway, who singled right back through the middle to plate both runs. Koehler was able to limit the damage after getting Mason Dodd to roll into a double play.
 
Columbus State got an insurance run in the sixth before icing the game with two more in the eighth. Oliver began the inning with a single through the right side of the infield before Ihle followed with his second double of the game, this time to right, as he made it an 8-3 game. After a pitching change and two outs, Blake Edwards recorded CSU's second double of the inning to score another Cougar run.
 
Lander was able to score one in the ninth, but Cougar reliever Robert Hayes slammed the door shut to give the Cougars the victory.
 
Miller and Edwards were both 3-for-5 in the win for CSU. Miller drove in three and scored twice while Edwards had a double and RBI of his own. Ihle was 2-for-5 with two doubles, three driven in and two runs scored. Oliver also picked up a multi-hit day for the Cougars.
 
After not making it out of the second on Wednesday against North Georgia, Koehler (10-1) was excellent for Columbus State. The righty limited LU to just three runs on five hits while striking out five. He becomes CSU's first 10-game winner since 2010. Juan Montana tossed 1.1 innings in relief for the Cougars.
 
Miller was named the tournament's MVP as he hit .500 (9-for-18) with two homers and five driven in. Ihle was also named to the All-Tournament team after hitting .444 (8-for-18) with three doubles, a triple and three RBIs. Koehler also earned a spot on the team after his performance Sunday.
 
White was 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI for the Bearcats. Colton Rogers (7-2) took the loss for Lander after allowing five runs in 3.1 innings.
 
The NCAA Tournament selection show can be found here.