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ALBANY, Ga. – Ten runs over the first three innings were more than enough for the Columbus State University baseball team, as the Cougars picked up an 11-2 win at Albany State on Thursday.
 
Columbus State (3-1) exploded for three runs in the first, five in the second and two in the third on its way to victory.
 
"It was good to get the bats going early," head coach Greg Appelton said. "Kolton (Ingram) had a lead before he stepped on the mound and that only adds to the confidence level of a pitcher."
 
CSU was off and running from the opening batter as Justin Evans led the game off with a single. Garrett Kirkwood followed with a hit of his own before a double play left the Cougars with two outs.
 
Frank Wager came through for the Cougars however, delivering a RBI double to start the scoring. Will Hodges then tacked on a pair with his first home run of the season.
 
In the second, Austin Pharr started the inning off right with a knock and Drew Webb followed with a walk. A double steal and another walk loaded the bases and Kirkwood made it a 4-0 game on a sacrifice fly.
 
Columbus State's strong work with two outs continued from there with Mason McClellan driving home two with a single and Wager launching his first homer of 2018 to stretch the lead out to eight.
 
A walk, hit by pitch and bunt single loaded the bases for the Cougars in the third and Robert Brooks brought home two more runs with a single of his own.
 
The scoring would slow there for CSU, but the pitching took care of the rest. Kolton Ingram (2-0) struck out eight over five innings of work, allowing just two runs.
 
Perez Knowles tossed two innings of scoreless relief, followed by clean innings from T.J. Clark and Drew Reeves.
 
All nine Cougar starters had at least one hit in the game and eight of the nine scored a run. Wager was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and came up just a triple shy of the cycle. Brooks had a 2-for-4 day with two RBIs and two runs scored.
 
Columbus State will have the weekend off before its home opener on Tuesday against West Florida. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Burger King Stadium.