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COLUMBUS – In the second of two matchups between the teams this spring, the eighth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team got the better of Montevallo 7-2 on Wednesday. The nonconference game was played at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
 
Columbus State (30-6) swept the home-and-home series with the Falcons, winning 16-8 at Montevallo back in February.
 
"We fell behind early, but this team doesn't ever panic," head coach Greg Appleton said. "We gave up the early runs, but I was really proud of our pitchers putting eight scoreless innings up after that."
 
It was Montevallo (27-13) that found the scoreboard first on Wednesday, getting a two-run homer just three batters into the day to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Columbus State answered back in the bottom of the second, as Drew Webb poked a two-out single through the right side to score Grant Berry to cut the deficit in half. On the very next pitch, Justin Evans doubled into the left field corner to bring a pair of runs to the plate and the Cougars quickly jumped in front.
 
CSU added another run in the third behind some shaky infield defense from the Falcons and held a 4-2 edge after three. Both pitching staffs settled in from there, with neither offense scoring over the next four innings.
 
The Cougars finally got some insurance in the eighth, courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Garrett Kirkwood and a long two-run blast off the bat of Mason McClellan.
 
Tyler Cadenhead (6-0) got the start on the mound for CSU, allowing just the two runs in the first of his five innings on Wednesday. Payton Phillips went the next three, giving up two hits and striking out three. Drew Reeves then picked up the final three outs to finish off the victory.
 
Eight of nine Cougar starters had a hit in the win, led by McClellan's 3-for-3 day at the plate. The senior also had a pair of walks, reaching all five times he went to the plate.
 
Columbus State is back in Peach Belt Conference action on Friday against Francis Marion. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.