Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

By: Josh Fuller

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – The 28^th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team hit three home runs and got yet another complete game from Caleb Kutsche as the Cougars held on to defeat 29^th-ranked Georgia College 6-5 Friday. The Peach Belt Conference game took place at Kurtz Field in Milledgeville.

"It's always great to get some early runs on the board to help take some pressure off the pitcher and that's exactly what the guys did tonight for Caleb," said head coach Greg Appleton. "We made things interesting again in the ninth, but we were able to close it out and start the weekend on the right foot."

Columbus State (20-11, 11-5 PBC) went ahead 2-0 after just two batters in the top of the first. Tyler Fichter reached base to begin the game with a single through the right side of the infield before Justin Evans continued his power surge with a homer to left-centerfield. It was the seventh home run of the season for the sophomore. CSU failed to add on in the inning though after stranding a runner in scoring position.

After a perfect bottom of the first from Kutsche, the Cougars made it 3-0 in the second. Grant Berry laced a double to right-center with one-out before moving to second on a Gunar Drinnen infield singled. With runners on the corners, Fichter skied a ball to the outfield for the sacrifice fly.

The Cougars continued their early barrage as Mason McClellan led off the top of the third with an opposite field home run to right field. An inning later, Turner Vincent went deep to make it 5-0.
 
Kutsche would roll into the fifth, retiring nine hitters in a row after a single in the second. However, the Bobcats scored two in the frame after a two-out, two-run single making it a 5-2 game.

Georgia College brought the tying run to the plate in the sixth after scoring another run on a RBI single. Kutsche was able to pitch around two runners on getting a popup and a strikeout to escape the trouble.
 
Kutsche had to pitch out of trouble again in the eighth after GC got an extra out thanks to a CSU error. The righty was able to pitch out of a two-on, one-out jam to keep the Cougars on top.
 
Columbus State was able to add an insurance run in the ninth. With two outs, Fichter doubled to left-center putting pressure on the GC defense. After a walk and a fielding error to load the bases, Lake Hart worked a 3-2 walk to force in a much-needed run.
 
Georgia College didn't go down without a fight. With two out and a runner on, the Bobcats made it a one-run game after getting a home run to left-centerfield. However, Kutsche got a infield popup to end the game.

Kutsche allowed five runs on 10 hits in his fifth complete game of the season. He walked two while punching out seven.

Three Cougars had two hits on the day with Fichter (2-for-4), Mason McClellan (2-for-5) and Drinnen (2-for-4) leading the way. McClellan had a double to go along with his solo homer.

Columbus State and Georgia College will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m.