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By: Josh Fuller

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – After a furious comeback, the 28^th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team fell 10-9 after 29^th-ranked Georgia College walked off in the ninth to even the Peach Belt Conference series Saturday. The game took place at Kurtz Field in Milledgeville.

Trailing 9-3 after the fourth, the Cougars stormed back and eventually tied the game in the ninth. However, the Bobcats got a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning before eventually loading the bases with just one out. The winning run came across after a sacrifice fly.

"This was another tough loss to take," said head coach Greg Appleton. "Give credit to the guys for fighting back to make it a game, but we have to finish things off. We didn't pitch well enough to win today and we have to get it corrected for tomorrow."
 
Things weren't all bad to start as Columbus State (20-12, 11-6 PBC) scored the game's opening run in the first. Justin Evans got a one-out single before scoring an at-bat later when Mason McClellan yanked a doubled down the left field line.
 
CSU added on in the second as Bryce Delevie doubled to open the frame with Drew Webb following with a bunt single. After a Webb stolen base, a groundout from Grant Berry and a sacrifice fly from Gunar Drinnen made it 3-0.
 
Georgia College came back in its half of the second to tie the game. The Bobcats got three hits in the frame off Cougar starter Brandon Koehler and a costly error allowed GC to score its third run of the frame.
 
In the fourth, GC put a six spot on the board to go ahead 9-3. The Bobcats had six hits in the frame and brought home four runs in four straight at-bats. Koehler was chased before the inning was over as Tyler Cadenhead recorded the last out of the inning.

It took a few innings for the Columbus State offense to get rolling again. In the sixth, the first three Cougars reached base, including Webb who singled home Turner Vincent to make it 9-4. Following a pitching change and a groundout, the Cougars got three straight RBI singles to make it a 9-7 game. Drinnen, Tyler Fichter and Evans had the RBI hits for the Cougars.
 
The Cougars made it just a one-run game in the seventh as Vincent doubled and Delevie singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Berry eventually brought Vincent home on a sacrifice fly.
 
After a scoreless eighth, Columbus State extended the game in the ninth by scoring a single run. Lake Hart had a leadoff double with Vincent singling in the game-tying run during the next at-bat. Vincent reached second, but was stranded there allowing for the GC walkoff opportunity in the ninth.

Evans had an outstanding game at the plate going 4-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored. Delevie was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs while Berry and Drinnen each drove home two. Three other Cougars had two hits on the day.

Koehler had a tough outing allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits through 3.2 innings. Cadenhead (0-1) pitched well tossing 4.2 innings of one-run ball. He allowed three hits while striking out three.
 
Columbus State and Georgia College will play the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m.