Like Columbus State Athletics on Facebook!
COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University baseball team won its fourth straight game Friday knocking off Rollins 3-2 to begin a three-game series at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
The Cougars plated a single run in three different innings while senior Kolton Ingram was dominant on the hill. Ingram (2-0) was outstanding in the middle part of the game sending down 11 hitters in a row at a time while scattering five hits. The lefty punched out eight.
"That was a great start to the series," stated head coach Greg Appleton. "Rollins is a very good club, and Kolton (Ingram) set the tone after that first inning. We are playing some good ball right now and hopefully that carries over for the rest of the weekend."
Rollins (8-2) took the early lead in the top of the first. After Ingram issued his only walk of the game, the Tars got back-to-back singles to jump in front.
The Cougars didn't play from behind for long though. In the bottom of the second, Chase Brown hit his second home run in as many games tying the game at one.
Columbus State (6-4) took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to speed on the bases. Leading off the inning, Kendall Ford extended his hitting streak to 10 games before he swiped second and moved to third on a fly out to deep center. Frank Wager was able to get the ball to the outfield skying one to shallow center. Ford used his speed and beat the throw home to give the Cougars the lead.
Rollins threatened in the fourth getting a leadoff double into the right-centerfield gap, but Ingram dug in. The senior retired the next three hitters he faced beginning a stretch of 11 straight sat down by Ingram.
In the sixth, Grant Berry gave the Cougars an insurance run as he lined his second homer to dead-away center.
The Tars finally got to Ingram in the seventh with a solo homer to right to make it a 3-2 game.
The bullpens for each side were dominant with Cougar reliever Devin Dudal being no exception. Dudal entered the game in the eighth and retired all six hitters he faced to earn his second save of the season.
Berry was a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for Columbus State with a double and a homer. Four other Cougar hitters picked up a hit in the game.
Columbus State and Rollins will meet again on Saturday with first pitch coming at 1 p.m. at Burger King Stadium.Â
Â
