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By:
Josh Fuller
COLUMBUS – After losing the lead in the top of the eighth, the Columbus State University baseball team rallied scoring six runs in the bottom of the frame to defeat Augusta 9-4 in the regular season finale. The nonconference game took place at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
The Cougars (29-19) went into the eighth up 3-2 after starter
Brandon Koehler settled into a groove. After a one-out walk, Augusta got a line drive home run that barely cleared the left field wall putting the Jaguars up 4-3.
It didn't take long for CSU to respond though.
Tyler Fichter singled to begin things before stealing second and moving to third on a failed pickoff attempt.
Justin Evans would also get into scoring position with a walk and a stolen base of his own.
Looking for the big hit,
Mason McClellan delivered for the Cougars lacing a single through the left side of the infield to plate both runners and put CSU back in front 5-4. Things didn't stop there as
Lake Hart walked and
Dylan Tomlin beat out a bunt single to load the bases for
Drew Webb. The freshman hit a hard ball up the middle that deflected off the shortstop's glove into the outfield scoring a pair of runs.
Columbus State added two more runs in the inning on a
Grant Berry single and a Fichter sacrifice fly to take the 9-4 lead.
Senior
Robert Hayes tossed a scoreless ninth in relief to secure the victory.
"This was an outstanding win to close out the regular season," stated CSU head coach
Greg Appleton. "We played well throughout and battled back from adversity there at the end.
"I know the guys can't wait for the conference tournament next week and we are going to get immediately back to work and continue getting better."
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Columbus State took the opening lead of the game in the second after getting three runs. Tomlin reached second after a one-out error and moved to third on a balk. Webb picked up a RBI with a groundout to score the game's first run. With the bases clear,
Turner Vincent laid down a bunt to the left side of the pitching mound and reached first without a throw. The hit turned into gold for the Cougars as Berry hammered a two-run home run over the right-centerfield wall adding to the lead.
Augusta (21-25) made things interesting in the third. The Jags got a leadoff home run while a Cougar error allowed for another run to score to make it just a 3-2 game.
From there, both pitchers would settle in. Koehler would retire the next 12 hitters he faced until allowing a single with one out in the seventh. He finished that inning before running into trouble in the eighth. For the game, the righty allowed four runs on seven hits in 7.1 innings. He struck out four while walking just two.
Offensively, Berry (2-for-4) and Webb (1-for-4) each drove in three runs for the Cougars.
Mason McClellan was 2-for-5 with two RBIs while Fichter was 1-for-2 with a RBI and a stolen base.
The Cougars will now prepare for next week's Peach Belt Conference Tournament in Florence, S.C. The double-elimination tournament will get started on Wednesday.
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