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By:
Josh Fuller
BOCA RATON, Fla. – After the Columbus State University baseball team scored five runs in the second, Lynn scored nine unanswered runs to go on to defeat the Cougars 9-6 on Sunday. The game took place at the Lynn Baseball Field in Boca Raton, Fla.
The Cougars left nine runners on in the game, including four in the final three innings.
"Our bats did a good job giving us a lead, but we have to add on when we get the chance," said head coach
Greg Appleton. "Our pitching has to do a better job at keeping a lead, but it's still early in the season and we will figure it out."
After a quick first inning, Columbus State (3-4) got things going in the second as
Lake Hart singled to left-center to begin the frame. CSU would then load the bases, thanks to two walks, before
Austin Collins laced a single up the middle scoring Hart and Gunnar Drinnen. A walk to
Justin Evans reloaded the bases for CSU for
Grant Berry, who also delivered a two-run single to make it 4-0.
Lynn made a quick pitching change, but
Turner Vincent legged out an infield single to keep the inning alive and make it 5-0 in CSU's favor.
Pitching with a lead, Cougar starter
Albert Harless struggled in the second. After retiring the first two batters of the frame, a single and a home run quickly made it 5-2. Lynn would add another solo homer a batter later to make it 5-3.
Lynn would tie the game at five in the fourth striking for a pair after beginning the inning with a walk and a single. The Fighting Knights would get a triple to tie it up, but Harless would strand the go-ahead runner there by inducing a groundball double play.
In the sixth, Lynn (4-3) went ahead thanks to four runs in the frame. The Fighting Knights recorded four hits in the inning, including a two-run single up the middle.
CSU scored its final run in the seventh as Berry singled home Evans after the sophomore reached base on an error.
Berry and Collins both had good games for Columbus State at the plate. Berry went 2-for-5 with three driven in, while Collins was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
Harless tossed four innings in the no-decision allowing five runs on five hits.
Jacob Boccucci (0-1) took the loss allowing four runs in 1.1 innings of work.
Robert Hayes and
Kolton Ingram each tossed 1.1 scoreless innings.
Columbus State will be back in action next weekend with a three-game series against Wingate. The series will begin on Friday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. in Wingate, N.C.
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