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CARY, N.C. – The eighth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team suffered its first loss at the Division II College World Series, falling 3-2 against No. 3 Florida Southern. The game was played at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
 
Columbus State (47-14) and Florida Southern (45-10-1) will tee it up again on Friday, with the winner advancing to Saturday's national championship. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
"We missed some opportunities today," head coach Greg Appleton said. "We were able to get a runner home from third in a couple innings and it cost us. Give their pitchers credit though. They did a good job of keeping us off balance and neutralizing our left-handers."
 
For the first time in the World Series, Columbus State found itself down in a ballgame after the Mocs plated a run in the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Cougar bats woke up the second time through the order though, tying the game up in the fourth. Mason McClellan worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on Chase Brown's single. A foul out recorded the second out of the frame, but Frank Wager delivered a clutch two-out single to score McClellan to even the game at one apiece.
 
FSC had an answer however, responding with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to jump back in front at 3-1.
 
In the fifth, the Cougars got singles from Drew Webb, Garrett Kirkwood and McClellan, the last of which cut the deficit in half. However, CSU couldn't capitalize with runners on the corners and only one out, striking out in consecutive at-bats.
 
After the early runs, T.J. Clark settled in on the mound, keeping the Cougars within just one run the rest of the way.
 
Columbus State's final threat came in the eighth, with McClellan starting the inning with a single into centerfield. Austin Pharr replaced him on the bases after a fielder's choice and back-to-back walks to Brown and Robert Brooks loaded the bases up with one away.
 
However, the Cougars missed their chance again, as a strikeout and fly out stranded the bases loaded. CSU then went in order in the ninth to close out the game.
 
Clark (7-4) went the distance on the mound for the Cougars, allowing just two earned runs in eight innings of work. The junior struck out six and scattered nine hits.
 
Seven of the nine Cougar starters had a hit on the day, with McClellan turning in a 2-for-3 day with a run scored and one driven in.