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AIKEN, S.C. – The fourth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team fell for the second straight day, losing 5-2 at USC Aiken on Saturday. The Peach Belt Conference game was played in Aiken, S.C.
 
Columbus State (22-4, 8-2 PBC) has now dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
 
As was the case on Friday, the Cougars were rolling along early behind a strong pitching performance.
 
Perez Knowles was carving up the Pacers through five innings, striking out nine and allowing just one runner to reach second base.
 
Meanwhile, Mason McClellan provided the southpaw with a pair of runs, hitting a solo home run in the first inning and adding some insurance with a RBI single in the sixth.
 
Things unraveled for the Cougars though in the bottom half of the sixth inning. A leadoff walk and a double put the tying runs in scoring position with nobody out, but Knowles would strike out the following hitter.
 
An intentional walk to the cleanup hitter loaded the bases, and the Pacers took the lead with one swing sending a ball over the wall to double up CSU 4-2. A defensive miscue brought another Pacer run across the plate in the seventh.
 
The Cougars brought the tying run to the plate with one out and two runners on in the ninth, but a fly out and pop up put the game on ice.
 
Knowles (2-1) tossed all eight innings on the mound for the Cougars, surrendering the five runs on just five hits. The senior finished with a career-best 13 strikeouts.
 
McClellan had the only two hits in the game for CSU, going 2-for-4 at the plate and driving in both runs.
 
Columbus State and USC Aiken will wrap up the series on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.