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AIKEN, S.C. – The fourth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team saw its winning streak come to a close on Friday with a 7-4 loss at USC Aiken. The Peach Belt Conference game was played in Aiken, S.C.
 
Columbus State (22-3, 8-1 PBC) took its first loss since Feb. 18, snapping a streak of 16 consecutive victories.
 
Things appeared to be rolling smoothly for the Cougars through five innings on Friday night with CSU holding a 3-0 lead.
 
Grant Berry singled home Robert Brooks to give Columbus State the lead in the second inning. Garrett Kirkwood and Mason McClellan then had consecutive run-scoring hits to extend the lead to three in the fourth.
 
Meanwhile, Kolton Ingram was dealing again on the mound, striking out 10 through five scoreless innings.
 
However, Ingram ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth with the Pacers getting five straight hits to begin the inning and tying the game at three. The southpaw stranded the go-ahead runners at second and third with three more strikeouts though.
 
CSU edged its way back in front in the seventh behind a RBI double from Justin Evans that scored Turner Vincent.
 
USC Aiken (18-9, 9-4) responded with four runs in the bottom half of the frame to seesaw ahead for the first time on the night.
 
The Cougars got the tying run to the plate with two away in the eighth, but a groundout ended the comeback threat.
 
Ingram (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing six runs in 6.1 innings. He struck out 13 on the night, his third double-digit strikeout performance in his last four starts.
 
Berry, Evans and Kirkwood all had two hits at the plate for the Cougars.
 
The series continues on Saturday with the middle game of three. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.