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DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The ninth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team flexed its muscles on Friday night for a 15-3 win over North Georgia. The Peach Belt Conference series opener was played in Dahlonega.
 
Columbus State (37-10, 19-8 PBC) launched six home runs on the evening to take the first game of the series.
 
"We got off to a great start tonight and squared a lot of balls up," head coach Greg Appleton said. "It's always good to get the first game of the weekend, but we need to back it up again tomorrow."
 
Austin Pharr got the Cougars off to a good start on Friday night, launching a three-run home run just four batters into the ballgame. The junior now has six home runs in his last six games.
 
The home runs continued in the second inning, as Drew Webb hammered his fifth long ball of the season to extend the CSU lead out to five. Frank Wager then added a three-run shot in the third inning to give the Cougars an eight-run cushion.
 
After North Georgia (29-19, 16-12) put a run up in the third, the Cougars went back to work at the plate. Robert Brooks hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Grant Berry went back-to-back to make it 11-1.
 
Two innings later, Berry stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and crushed his second home run of the night.
 
Kolton Ingram (10-3) was the beneficiary of the run support, grabbing the victory with just one run and one hit allowed over six innings. Sheridan Coy and Miles Dutton combined to throw the final three innings.
 
Berry was 3-for-5 on the night with five RBIs to lead the Cougar offense. Mason McClellan also had a multi-hit night as eight of nine Cougar starters had a hit.
 
Columbus State and North Georgia will continue the series on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.