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COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University baseball team edged out Albany State 6-4 in a  midweek game Wednesday night. The non-conference battle took place at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field. 

Columbus State (21-11, 8-7 PBC) hung on after Albany State made a late push in the ninth inning. Relief pitcher Devin Dudal came in looking for the save but an infield error and a HBP put runners on first and second to start the inning for the Golden Rams. 

Dudal would snag a strikeout but a single to follow would make it a 6-4 game with runners on first and second. A groundout advanced the runners putting the tying run on second base with two outs. But on the first pitch of the at bat Kendall Ford made a diving play at the comebacker in the hole, firing it to first for the final out. 

"These midweek games are never easy and they have a really good club at Albany State," said head coach Greg Appleton. "The pitching was designed to give us some innings before we got to our backend and it worked. We're ready to prepare now for Georgia Southwestern because this weekend will be real tough."

Albany State jumped out to the early 2-0 lead in the first inning before CSU even got to the plate. But they would quickly chip away at the deficit getting an RBI-single from Robert Brooks in the bottom of the first. 

Matthew McDade put Columbus State in front one inning later after he sent a laser into left field for his third home run of the season to make it 3-2. CSU would get two more the following inning on erratic pitching by the Golden Rams after a wild pitch and passed ball put the Cougars in front 5-3. 

Columbus State proceeded to get a run for the fourth straight inning after Dane Bullock ripped a double down the right field line plating Brooks for the sixth run of the game. 

That would be the last run though for either team until the top of the ninth as the pitching took over for both clubs. Despite the zeroes up on the scoreboard from the fifth inning until the ninth, a baserunner reached the base paths in every single half-inning for each squad the entire game. 

Thomas Howell (2-0) went three strong innings for CSU giving up an early run before settling down and picking up three strikeouts. Alan Carter and Sheridan Coy would team up for three innings of shutout ball sending the Cougars to the ninth before Dudal picked up his ninth save of the year. 

Drew Webb lead the Cougars in hits Wednesday night going 3-for-4 at the plate while Berry finished 1-for-3 with two runs and two walks. Eight of the nine batters for the Cougars picked up a hit and all nine reached base as Columbus State racked up ten hits and drew nine walks in the win. 

Columbus State will take on Georgia Southwestern this upcoming weekend in a three-game series against the Hurricanes. The first game is scheduled to start at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 5.