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By: Josh Fuller

COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University baseball team scored 11 runs and four pitchers combined to give the Cougars an 11-0 shutout victory over Tuskegee Wednesday. The nonconference game took place at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field in Columbus.
 
Kolton Ingram (1-1) made his first start of the season tossing six innings of two-hit ball. The sophomore struck out a career-high 11 while issuing just one walk. Jacob Boccucci, Jarrod Little and Chaz Wilson each tossed a scoreless inning apiece.
 
"The guys came out and took care of business today," said head coach Greg Appleton. "It's good to get a midweek win and get some guys some playing time to get us ready for another important conference weekend against Young Harris."
 
The Cougars (10-7) scored a pair of runs in the opening frame without the benefit of a hit. Justin Evans drew a walk while Turner Vincent was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with just one out. After a double steal and a pop up, a wild pitch and a passed ball plated Evans and Vincent, respectively, to put CSU ahead.

Evans recorded Columbus State's first hit in the third with one out advancing Tyler Fichter to second after he was hit by a pitch to begin things. After a fly out moved Fichter to third, Mason McClellan reached on a fielder's choice that brought home Fichter to make it 3-0.
 
The Cougars put the game away in the fourth scoring six runs to grab a 9-0 lead. Grant Berry had a RBI double driving home Gunar Drinnen, who was hit to begin the inning. Fichter made it 5-0 with a run-scoring grounder before Evans ripped a double into the left field corner scoring a pair of runs.
 
To close out the scoring in the inning, Mason McClellan and Jamal Howard each singled through the left side of the infield to pick up RBIs.
 
Columbus State added two runs in the eighth after picking up four singles in the frame. Lake Hart had a RBI base knock up the middle while Drinnen fisted a single to center to make it 11-0.
 
Eight different players had a hit in the game. Evans was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. The sophomore had a double and two steals. Mason McClellan had two RBIs while five other Cougars had RBIs.
 
Columbus State will now prepare for a three-game Peach Belt Conference series against Young Harris. The first game will be on Friday, March 10 at 5 p.m. at Burger King Stadium.