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By: Josh Fuller

WINGATE, N.C. – The Columbus State University baseball team outhit Wingate, but managed just one run falling 3-1 to the Bulldogs in the series finale Sunday. The nonconference game took place at Ron Christopher Field in Wingate, N.C.
 
"We pitched excellent today, but we didn't come up with the timely hits we needed to win," stated head coach Greg Appleton. "It's disappointing because we could have easily walked away with a sweep if we made a few more plays, but instead we lost the series.
 
"We will get after it in practice this week before starting conference play against Georgia Southwestern."
 
After stranding runners in each of the first three innings, it looked like the Cougars were going to break through in the fourth. With one out, Mason McClellan walked before Miles Cameron singled. Lake Hart singled to follow, but Wingate got an out on the base paths for the second out of the frame.
 
The inning was extended after Grant Berry was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but the Bulldogs walked away unscathed after a strikeout.
 
Columbus State (4-6) did break the scoreless tie in the fifth. Tyler Fichter quickly rounded the bases after singling to left before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, Turner Vincent came up with a clutch single to center to put the Cougars in front.
 
Luke Porter continued his great start for CSU retiring the side to send the game into the sixth with Cougars in front. Porter limited Wingate (4-7) to just one hit over the first five innings.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Porter started the inning shaky hitting a batter, but a strikeout and a caught stealing put two outs on the board. However, things fell apart from there. Porter would put another runner on after plunking a batter with a pitch. A costly error followed tying the game at one before a two-run blast put Wingate in front 3-1.
 
The Cougars put a runner on in the seventh and eighth, but didn't manage to tie the game.
 
Porter (0-1) threw an eight-inning complete game allowing three unearned runs. He struck out seven allowing just five hits. He did walk a pair as well as hitting two.
 
Fichter was 3-for-4 with a stolen base, while Hart was 2-for-4.
 
Columbus State will be back in action on Friday, Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. taking on Georgia Southwestern at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.