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LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The Columbus State University baseball team earned an opening series victory with a split of Saturday's doubleheader at West Alabama. The Cougars took the opening game 7-1 before falling 6-3 in the nightcap.
 
"Anytime you can win a series on the road, you're pleased," head coach Greg Appleton said. "We had some questions about our pitching coming into this season, but I thought we threw the ball really well."
 
Columbus State (2-1) will be on the road again on Wednesday, traveling for a midweek date at Albany State. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
 
Game One
 
Columbus State jumped on the board early in Saturday's opener, cashing in a leadoff walk with a Frank Wager RBI single. West Alabama answered right back though, getting a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning.
 
After a run in the first, starting pitcher Perez Knowles settled in nicely for the Cougars. The senior followed with four clean innings before turning the game over to Jalen Latta.
 
The Cougar offense came to life in the seventh inning. Grant Berry and Drew Webb opened with singles before Austin Pharr walked to load the bases. Robert Brooks then delivered the big blow, singling home a pair to push CSU back in front.
 
Pharr later came across on a wild pitch, while Mason McClellan and Wager added RBI knocks to wrap up the five-run inning.
 
The five-run cushion would be more than enough for Latta, who allowed just one baserunner over his four innings of work. The sophomore closed out the game and tallied the victory.
 
Berry, Brooks and Wager all had two hits apiece in the opening victory.
 
Game Two
 
The Cougars found themselves in an early hole in the second game of the doubleheader, giving up five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
CSU finally broke through in the fourth with a Will Hodges single, but the Tigers answered with a run in the fifth to make it a five-run game again.
 
Columbus State finally was able to threaten in the final inning of the seven-inning contest. Chase Brown singled home Berry and Turner Vincent was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 6-3.
 
McClellan came to the plate with two outs and the tying runs on base, but the senior grounded out to end the contest.
 
T.J. Clark was saddled with the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits in four-plus innings. Drew Reeves worked two scoreless in relief.