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By:
Josh Fuller
PEMBROKE, N.C. – The Columbus State University baseball team rolled to a 12-2 victory over UNC Pembroke banging out 17 hits and getting a superb start from senior
Brandon Koehler Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference series is taking place in Pembroke, N.C.
The Cougars scored a run in five different innings, including three in the third and five in the sixth.
"Our bats got going early which was a great confidence booster for Brandon," said head coach
Greg Appleton. "He located well and did his job perfectly giving us a chance for a series win."
Columbus State (8-7, 4-1) got a run in the first after
Justin Evans reached base on a one-out single before swiping second. After a foul out, Evans stole third, but it wasn't needed as
Mason McClellan laced a double to left-center to score the game's opening run.
It was a very similar scoring situation in the second with
Drew Webb causing havoc on the base paths. Webb singled to right with one out before stealing second. The freshman would score on a
Tyler Fichter single to center.
Koehler worked around trouble in the second as UNC Pembroke got back-to-back hits to lead off the inning. However, the righty allowed just one run to keep the Cougars in front.
In the third, CSU added some insurance runs putting a three spot on the board to go in front 5-1.
Turner Vincent was hit by a pitch to begin the side, while
Mason McClellan singled through the left side to put runners on the corners.
Jamal Howard would then deliver his first hit of the season as he singled to right to put the Cougars up 5-1.
Gunar Drinnen would follow with his own RBI single, while Webb made it 6-1 with a single to left.
The Cougars put the game away in the sixth, with a little help from UNC Pembroke. The Cougars had three hits in the frame, but the Braves had three costly errors that helped lead to runs. With two on and one out, Vincent singled to right to plate Webb from second. Evans would score on the play after a throwing error from UNCP.
Mason McClellan also drove a run in the frame, while CSU tacked on two more runs on a wild pitch and another error from the Braves to make it 10-1.
The Cougars capped off the scoring in the seventh as
Mason McClellan drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and another UNCP error.
UNCP scored a single run in the eighth after getting a leadoff triple.
Koehler (2-1) tossed his best start of the year for the Cougars. He scattered eight hits in the eight-inning performance allowing just two runs while walking one. The righty also struck out five.
Albert Harless pitched a scoreless ninth for the Cougars.
Mason McClellan had a huge day at the plate going 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Drinnen went 3-for-5 with a RBI and also scored once. Webb was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base.
Columbus State and UNC Pembroke will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Â
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