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YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. – The seventh-ranked Columbus State University baseball team opened its weekend series at Young Harris with a 4-1 victory on Friday night. The Peach Belt Conference contest was played in Young Harris, Ga.
 
Columbus State (34-7, 16-5 PBC) got strong efforts from Kolton Ingram on the mound and Mason McClellan at the plate on its way to the victory.
 
"Kolton had good stuff tonight," head coach Greg Appleton said. "He did a great job of making big pitches with runners on base and we were able to get a few timely hits behind him."
 
Ingram worked his way around baserunners in multiple innings on Friday night, starting in the second. The junior picked up consecutive strikeouts with two on to keep the game scoreless through two innings.
 
The CSU offense then used the momentum to get a pair of runs in the third. Chase Brown and Justin Evans each singled, and Garrett Kirkwood reached on an error with two outs to load the bases. McClellan then worked a single through the right side two bring the opening runs across the plate.
 
Young Harris (24-21, 14-14) threatened again in the fourth with runners on the corners and only one away. However, Ingram worked his way out of it again with a strikeout and a lineout to send the game into the fifth inning.
 
In the fifth, it was McClellan that delivered another two-out hit, scoring Brown to make it a 3-0 game.
 
Already the national leader in double plays turned, Columbus State added to their total with twin killings to end the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Evans and Grant Berry teamed together on all three.
 
Drew Webb gave the Cougars an insurance run leading off the seventh inning, hitting his fourth home run of the season to stretch the margin to 4-0.
 
Ingram (9-2) exited after eight shutout innings and turned the final three outs over to Jalen Latta. The sophomore allowed a run on three hits, but was able to finish the game off. Ingram allowed just six hits and struck out eight to pick up his ninth win of the year.
 
McClellan, Brown and Webb had two hits apiece to lead the Cougars. McClellan drove in three of the four runs on the night.
 
Columbus State and Young Harris will play game two of the series on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.