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By:
Josh Fuller
MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Columbus State University baseball team split a doubleheader on Saturday against Auburn Montgomery to cap off a three-game series. The games were played at the AUM Baseball Complex.
The Cougars took the first game 7-5 in 10 innings, but dropped the finale 5-3 in seven innings. With the split, the Cougars (22-14) took two-of-three from the Warhawks.
"It was good to get the series victory, but we made things too interesting in the first game and missed opportunities in the second. It's still a good outcome to get us prepared for an important week ahead."
Columbus State will take on Middle Georgia State in a midweek contest on Tuesday, April 11 in Cochran, Ga. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Game One
The Cougars were in a good position heading into the ninth up 4-3 and made it a two-run game after adding an insurance run. With two outs,
Lake Hart doubled down the right field line before being pinch run for by
Drew Webb.
Jamal Howard came up with the clutch two-out run-scoring single putting the Cougars ahead 5-3.
However, things didn't go according to plan in the ninth.
Perez Knowles managed to get two outs, but walked the bases loaded setting up a big jam. The Cougars looked to be out of the inning with the win, but an error tied the game at five sending the game into extras.
It didn't take long for the Cougars to get on the board in the 10
th.
Grant Berry began the inning with a single and
Gunar Drinnen worked a walk to put two on. After
Landon Cooper sacrificed both runners over,
Tyler Fichter loaded the bases with an infield single. Needing to put the ball in play,
Turner Vincent hit sacrifice fly to score the go-ahead run.
Mason McClellan added an insurance run with a RBI single to put CSU in front 7-5.
CSU ran into trouble in the bottom of the 10
th after the Warhawks put the first two runners on before
Jarrod Little entered the game. Little was able to set down the first three hitters he faced to pick up his second save of the season.
The game was tied at three after three innings of play. AUM got two runs in the bottom of the first off of Cougar starter
Brandon Koehler before he settled in. After the third, Koehler allowed just five hits in his final five innings of work. The righty allowed just three runs in eight innings while striking out seven.
The Cougars immediately tied the game at two in the second thanks to a two-run single from Cooper. CSU got a solo homer from
Mason McClellan in the third to take its first lead of the day at 3-2.
After AUM tied the game in the bottom of the third, the Cougars broke the tie in the fifth.
Mason McClellan and Hart began the inning with back-to-back singles before a throwing error loaded the bases with just one out. Berry brought in McClellan after reaching on a fielder's choice.
Robert Hayes (1-0) picked up the win after recording just one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Mason McClellan had an outstanding game at the plate for the Cougars going 5-for-6 with a homer and two RBIs. Cooper was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while Berry also put together a 2-for-4 performance. Hart and Howard each had two hits.
Game Two
It took a while for the Cougar offense to get going in the nightcap as it was a pitching duel through the first five.
The Cougars constantly missed out on scoring chances early in the game. Fichter was left on third in the top of the first while CSU stranded two in the second inning. In the fourth, the Cougars left another runner in scoring position after Webb singled and stole second with two outs.
AUM finally got to
Luke Porter in the fourth. With a runner on third and two outs, a single broke the scoreless tie. A hit batsman and another single made it a 2-0 AUM lead.
The Cougars had another golden chance in the fifth. Drinnen and Fichter both singled while Vincent worked a walk to load the bases for the middle of the Cougar order. However, back-to-back strikeouts ended the CSU threat.
AUM upped its lead to 5-0 in the sixth after a homer and another two-out single.
The Cougars made things interesting in the seventh. CSU had two on with two outs before
Mason McClellan extended the game with a RBI single to left center. Hart followed with a double down the right field line to make it a 5-3 game. However, a strikeout ended the game.
Porter (1-3) took the loss allowing two runs in four innings.
Kolton Ingram pitched a scoreless inning striking out the side.
Fichter was 3-for-3 with a run scored while Drinnen was 2-for-3. Hart was 1-for-4 with the two-run double.
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