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By: Josh Fuller

WINGATE, N.C. – Kicking off a three-game series, the Columbus State University baseball team got its bats rolling defeating Wingate 14-7 Friday afternoon. The game took place at Ron Christopher Field in Wingate, N.C.
 
Justin Evans was the hero on the day as the sophomore hit three home runs in a 4-for-6 performance. Evans finished with seven RBIs and five runs scored. It was the first time a Cougar hit three homers in a game since the 2015 season.
 
"It was good to open up the series with a win," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "Anytime you get 17 hits in a game, it's a good day. We have to be better on the mound though because you can't count on scoring double-digits runs every night."
 
Wingate (2-7) scored the game's opening run in the bottom of the first after CSU stranded the bases loaded, but the Cougars threatened again in the second. Patrick McClellan got on base with a one-out single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a walk, Evans hit the first of his three homers to center making it 3-1.
 
The Bulldogs added a single run in the second, but the Cougars added on in the fourth. Bryce Delevie led off the inning with a single and Tyler Fichter reached base to start the frame bringing up Evans. Evans delivered again going yard over the centerfield wall to push the score to 6-2.
 
Wingate got in on the home run barrage hitting two solo homers in the bottom of the fourth off Cougar starter Caleb Kutsche.
 
Columbus State (4-4) kept the ball inside the park in the fifth and put another three spot on the board. After Patrick McClellan and Delevie reached base with one out, Fichter found a hole through the infield for a RBI single. An error made it 8-4 Cougars, while Turner Vincent also added a RBI single to center for the ninth CSU run.
 
In the seventh, the Cougars pulled off a squeeze with freshman Miles Cameron at the plate. With one out, Evans laid down a great bunt for a base hit and moved to third on a Vincent single. With Cameron batting, Appleton called for a squeeze and the freshman executed it perfectly to add to the Cougar lead.  
 
However, the Bulldogs didn't go away hitting back-to-back homers in the seventh. Wingate got a two-run homer before another solo shot made it 10-7.
 
Columbus State added insurance runs in the ninth, thanks to two more homers. With one out, Evans capped of his great day hitting one out to left to make it 11-7. CSU got two runners on by a walk and a hit batter bringing up Mason McClellan. McClellan pulled one down the left field line for a three-run shot to make it a seven-run game.
 
Six different Columbus State players had at least two hits with three having three or more. Vincent was 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI, while Mason McClellan was 3-for-5 with the three-run bomb.

Kutsche (3-0) picked up his third win of the season tossing 6.1 innings. He allowed seven runs on 12 hits, while racking up seven strikeouts. Perez Knowles collected his second save tossing 2.2 scoreless innings.
 
Columbus State and Wingate will return to the field on Saturday at 2 p.m.