MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The Columbus State University baseball team fell 5-4 in the opening game of the series against Georgia College on Friday night. The Peach Belt Conference game took place at John Kurtz Field. 

Up 4-0 heading into the eighth inning, the Cougars had led the way since the opening inning until the Bobcats came storming back. 

"Unfortunately we let this one slip away from us," said head coach Greg Appleton. "Every game down the stretch is important in the conference race right now so we'll put this one behind us and move on."

Jalen Latta started off brilliant going seven strong innings scattering five hits while striking out eight. He recorded back-to-back strikeouts to strand runners on second and third heading to the eighth. 

But after a flyout, Georgia College promptly hit a double to deep left-center before smacking a two-run home run cutting the Cougar lead in half. 

Devin Dudal would come in relief of Latta, but the sophomore gave up back-to-back extra base knocks making it a 4-3 game. The Bobcats would get a sac-fly to top it off sending the game to the ninth tied up at four-apiece. 

Georgia College would finish the late comeback with an RBI-single in the bottom of the ninth to walk-off CSU. 

The Cougars got on the board without a single out recorded after Grant Berry drew a walk, stole second and then came home to score on a Drew Webb single. They'd make it 2-0 after Dane Bullock sent a ball through the left side to score Robert Brooks. 

After opening the third inning with a double from Webb, Chase Brown would eventually bring him home on a sac-fly. 

Columbus State would grab their fourth run in the fourth off a Garrett Kirkwood double. 

Bullock, Webb and Kendall Ford each collected two hits and a double in the opening game.

The two teams will play on Saturday, April 27 in the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.