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By:
Josh Fuller
COLUMBUS – A shaky defensive third inning from the Columbus State University baseball team allowed Augusta to score five runs as the Jaguars defeated CSU 8-3 Friday. The nonconference game took place at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
"It's hard to win games when you make three errors," said head coach
Greg Appleton. "We did a good job at the beginning of the game, but we have to shore up a few things to play a clean game."
The Cougars (28-19) started the game with a bang scoring two runs in the bottom of the first.
Tyler Fichter and
Justin Evans led the inning off with back-to-back singles before Fichter moved to third on a fly out. After Evans stole second, a wild pitch allowed Fichter to score while Evans moved to third.
Lake Hart made it 2-0 with a single of his own to close out the inning's scoring.
After not allowing a hit in the first two innings, CSU starter
Caleb Kutsche ran into trouble, with help from his defense. The Cougars made a pair of errors in the third allowing the Jags to move in front 5-2. The big blow was a two-out, three-run home run to right field.
Columbus State left a pair of runners on in the fourth before the Jags added two more in the fifth to go up 7-2. The Cougars made another defensive miscue adding to another unearned run.
CSU's bats struggled to get going as they stranded two more runners on in the fifth while getting a runner picked off in the sixth. The Cougars did add a run in the seventh thanks to a Evans single that whistled by the third baseman into left.
Columbus State put a runner on in the eighth and ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars fell.
Fichter was 3-for-4 for Columbus State to lead the way with a walk. Evans was 2-for-4 with a RBI while Hart was 1-for-4 with a run batted in.
Kutsche (10-2) took the loss allowing eight runs (two earned) in 6.1 innings. He didn't have his best control walking five while striking out three.
Perez Knowles tossed 2.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Columbus State and Augusta will close out the regular season tomorrow at 2 p.m. It will be Senior Day for the Cougars.
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