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COLUMBUS – The 11^th-ranked Columbus State University got back in the win column with a 14-10 victory over Albany State on Tuesday evening. The nonconference contest was played at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
 
Columbus State (23-5) finished with its second-highest offensive output of the season, despite having just nine hits on the night.
 
"We struggled swinging the bats this weekend, so it felt good to come out and score 14 runs," head coach Greg Appleton said. "We threw some guys out there that hadn't thrown in awhile and they were a little rusty, but it was good to get some innings for those guys."
 
The Cougars burst out of the gate, getting six runs on just two hits. Justin Evans set the tone for the inning with a leadoff walk and came around to score on Mason McClellan's infield single.
 
A hit batsman and walk loaded up the bases and Austin Pharr picked up a RBI after being hit by a pitch. Austin Collins then worked a walk to score a third run and Drew Webb sent a double into the left field corner that cleared the bases.
 
Albany State (11-13) plated a run in the third and three more in the fourth to get back within two, but the Cougars had the answer. A throwing error allowed Collins to score his second run of the day in the fourth and Garrett Kirkwood made it an 8-4 game with a RBI single to right.
 
The Golden Rams added two more runs in the top of the fifth before the Cougars responded with a four-spot of their own.
 
Robert Brooks started the bottom of the frame with a triple off the centerfield wall, and then scored on Grant Berry's RBI double. Later in the inning, Evans singled home a run and Kirkwood drew a bases loaded walk to score another. McClellan stretched the lead to 12-6 with a sacrifice fly.
 
Collins and Evans added two more runs to the board in the bottom of the sixth with run-scoring singles, giving the Cougars their fourth multi-run inning of the night.
 
ASU battled back to within four after plating four runs in the seventh, but Jalen Latta and Evans came in and slammed the door shut to secure the victory.
 
Alan Carter (1-0) tallied his first collegiate victory after tossing 2.1 innings out of the bullpen.
 
Columbus State is back in action on Wednesday with another nonconference game against Tuskegee. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Burger King Stadium.