ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Columbus State University baseball team dropped the opening game of the series against Flagler 6-0 on Friday night. The Peach Belt Conference game was played at Drysdale Field. 

The Cougar bats were unable to get anything going at the plate collecting a total of just four hits on the evening while the Saints took advantage of one big inning late to break the game open. 

"We couldn't have asked for more from Latta, he was phenomenal on the mound tonight," said head coach Greg Appleton. "But we have to do a much better job at taking advantage of the opportunities that we had. Not getting any runs in the third or fourth with all the runners aboard killed us tonight."

Columbus State (20-9, 8-5 PBC) would get two early chances at the plate to take the lead on the road. 

In the top of the third the Cougar bats would get back-to-back singles followed by a walk to load the bases with only one out. But the opportunity would go by the wayside after a pop up and a groundout kept the game scoreless. 

One inning later CSU was back at it again. Frank Wager drew a leadoff walk and Dane Bullock would then double to the gap in right center putting runners on second and third with no outs. 

Yet it would only take five more pitches from the Saints to get out of the jam. Back-to-back groundouts to third and then one to first would squander another opportunity for the Cougar offense. 

Jalen Latta (2-4) would do his best to keep Columbus State in the game. He didn't give up his first hit of the game until the fourth inning, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters he faced. 

The Saints got the opening run of the game in the bottom of the sixth with one out after a double into right field would get a runner on. But an errant throw from the outfield would then send the Saints runner all the way around the bases, coming home to make it 1-0. 

Latta finished his start going seven strong innings, giving up just two hits while striking out seven on 100 pitches. 

It was still a 1-0 deficit for CSU heading into the bottom of the eighth when Flagler exploded for five runs off of five hits with two errors by the Cougar defense. 

The final 11 batters for Columbus State were retired to leave them without a run on the night. 

Bullock and Wager each picked up their sixth double of the season on their lone hit for the night. 

Columbus State and Flagler will play the second game of the series on Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.