Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
Tweet #GoCSU

COLUMBUS – The nation's longest winning streak added another game on Saturday, as the fifth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team defeated Lander 8-3. The Peach Belt Conference game was played at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
 
Columbus State (20-2, 7-0 PBC) has now won 14 straight games and stayed perfect in conference play.
 
"We jumped on them early and were able to make it stand up," head coach Greg Appleton said. "I don't think we had our best today, but we were still able to win and I think that's a sign of a good team."
 
The offensive attack started with the very first batter of the day for the Cougars. Justin Evans hammered the third pitch he saw over the right-centerfield wall to lead off the first inning.
 
CSU's offense was just getting started though, with Robert Brooks, Will Hodges and Austin Pharr all picking up RBI singles to give the Cougars a 4-0 advantage after the first inning.
 
Columbus State tacked on another run in the second on a groundout by Mason McClellan, and Brooks tallied his second RBI knock of the game in the fourth to extend the lead out to 6-0.
 
Lander (6-17, 1-10) broke through with a solo homer in the fifth, breaking a streak of 17 straight scoreless innings for CSU pitchers.
 
McClellan capped off the Cougar attack in the eighth inning finding a hole in the Bearcat shift to score a pair.
 
Perez Knowles (2-0) worked seven innings on the mound for the Cougars, allowing just the solo home run and striking out 11.
 
Brooks, Hodges and Pharr had two hits apiece on Saturday. McClellan drove in three, while Brooks added two RBIs.
 
Columbus State and Lander will wrap up the three-game series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.