ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Columbus State University baseball team fell 3-1 in their opening pool play game of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. The game was played at Drysdale Field. 

A pitchers duel from start to finish, Pacers starter Mitch Spence and CSU's Kolton Ingram each went eight innings of work for their respective clubs. Ingram (4-3) gave up seven hits and three runs while striking out ten while Spence (9-4) also picked up ten strikeouts in the Pacer victory. 

"We had plenty of chances to capitalize but we just couldn't get the timely hit we needed," said head coach Greg Appleton. "Credit to the Pacers for getting out of those jams. But we need to have a short memory and be ready to bounce back tomorrow."

The Cougars had early chances when they had runners on first and second in both the first two innings. But each time the Pacers were able to work themselves out of a jam to go unscathed. 

USC Aiken would take the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second with an RBI-single up the middle making it a 1-0 game. 

In the fourth inning Ingram racked up his fourth strikeout of the game, which gave him his 309^th strikeout of his Cougar career. That passed Brian Baker for the all-time career strikeout record in Columbus State program history. 

Ingram and the Cougar defense would continue to keep the game within reach but the bats were unable to capitalize on their opportunities. For the third time in the first five innings they would strand runners on first and second, this time with no outs in the fifth. 

The Pacers then got a potentially game-swinging defensive gem in the seventh when it appeared that Garrett Kirkwood hit a two-run home run. But the right fielder made a leaping grab at the wall, bringing it back in to play. The home run robbery did atleast turn into a sac-fly for Kirkwood, tying the game at 1-apiece. 

USC Aiken would respond though in the bottom of the frame scoring twice to give them their 3-1 advantage. 

CSU only mustered four hits on the evening, with Kendall Ford scoring the lone run. 

Columbus State will continue their pool play with two games on Saturday. They'll take on Francis Marion at 1:30 and then Flagler immediately following.