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COLUMBUS – The Columbus State University baseball team hit eight home runs while collecting 17 hits to start the final weekend series of the year in style defeating 24th-ranked North Georgia 18-4 Friday night. The game took place at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
The eight long balls tied the Peach Belt Conference record for homers in a conference game. Augusta and Flagler were the last two teams to combine for eight in a single game doing so last season. CSU also set season highs in runs and hits on Friday
"Well this was a great start to the series for us as a team," said head coach Greg Appleton. "When you score seven runs in the first, it sets the tone and Latta did great backing it up. We just have to make sure to bring this same intensity to the game tomorrow because North Georgia will be ready to respond."
The barrage began early as the Cougars hit three over the wall in the first. Drew Webb hit a two-run bomb to open the inning while Frank Wager hit a three-run shot in his first at-bat back since April 18. Garrett Kirkwood capped off the scoring in the frame with his first home run of the season to make it 7-0.
The Cougars added runs in the second and third to go in front 14-0. Robert Brooks got in on the long ball action hitting a two-run blast to left while Chase Brown went over the center field wall in the third. Dane Bullock immediately followed Brown for back-to-back jacks giving the Cougars their 14th run of the game.
The run support would be plenty for CSU starter Jalen Latta. Latta (4-5) kept the Nighthawks off balance all night allowing two runs in six innings of work. The lefty punched out six while scattering five hits.
Columbus State kept the runs coming in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Brooks hit his second homer of the game in the fifth while Wager also added his second in the seventh.
Bullock, Ford and Webb each were 3-for-5 in the game while Brooks and Wager both drove in four apiece. Webb and Wager have both now reached base in 22 consecutive games.
Columbus State and North Georgia will meet in the middle game of the series Saturday afternoon. First pitch has been moved up to noon to avoid possible inclement weather.
