COLUMBUS - A nine-run sixth inning propelled the No. 9 Columbus State University baseball team to a 14-11 victory over USC Aiken on Sunday in the rubber game of a three-game Peach Belt Conference series. The game took place at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium.

The Cougars (9-3, 8-3 PBC) entered the sixth down 7-5 before sending 13 hitters to the plate in the decisive inning. After Connor Kirley scored the first run of the frame, Robert Brooks tied things up with a single to left field to bring up Dane Bullock with two-on and no-outs. Bullock would put Columbus State in front with a towering three-run blast to left for his fourth home run of the season. Colby Brabston added a solo shot two batters later to put CSU ahead 11-7.

Singles by Will Wilbanks and Kirley turned the lineup back to the top of the order for David Meadows. The Cougar leadoff hitter added on with an RBI single of his own before a two-run double by Isaac Bouton made it 14-7.

USC Aiken (6-9, 6-9 PBC) attempted to rally in the seventh after back-to-back singles got things going for the Pacers. James Eckert found a gap in the outfield for a run-scoring double, while a wild pitch pushed across two runs after a CSU error on the play. The comeback continued with USCA's second double of the inning made the margin 14-11 as Morgan Hyde laced a double down the left field line.

Timbo Trawick got the call from the bullpen for the Cougars, and the second-year freshman put water on the fire. A flyout and a three-pitch strikeout allowed Columbus State to escape the inning with the three-run lead.

Over the final two innings, Trawick would allow the leadoff hitter to reach, but that would be all. USC Aiken wasted a walk in the eighth before a double play in the ninth erased Eckert from the basepaths after he was hit by a pitch. The freshman capped off the eight-out save with a flyout to left. The Columbus native didn't allow a hit over his 2.2 innings of work.

"We needed our bats to wake up, and they for sure did that today," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "It might have taken a little longer than we wanted to, but we finally got some big hits to pick up an important win. A ton of guys had to contribute this weekend, and I'm super proud of their grit and determination."

CSU scored a run in the first without the benefit of a hit, but the Pacers came back with a run of their own in the second before putting a four-spot on the board in the third. Nick Tripp was the culprit as he smacked a three-run home run off the Cunningham Center in left field to put the Pacers up 4-1. An RBI single by Leo Horacio scored the final run of the inning.

Columbus State had an answer though in its half of the third. Bouton and Brooks both had singles to bring up Bullock. The fifth-year senior recorded his first extra-base hit of the day, sending a double right over the third-base bag to plate Bouton. USC Aiken nearly got out of the inning without further damage after back-to-back strikeouts put two outs on the board; however, Will Wilbanks had a different idea. The lefty pulled a three-run home run to right to tie the game at five. 

USC Aiken added single runs in the fifth and sixth to move back in front. Marcus Masetellone had a two-out hit off of Cougar starter Jamie Boatright in the fifth, while the Pacers put pressure on the CSU defense in the sixth. With runners on the corners, Jack Hannon took off for second drawing a throw down from Brooks from behind the plate. On the throw, Hyde took off from third to add on an insurance run. 

After the stolen base, a key double play got Cougar reliever Dalton Bradford out of the inning to send the CSU offense to the plate for the explosive sixth.

Eight of the nine Cougar position players recorded a hit on Sunday, with spots one through five in the lineup all picking up two. Bullock (2-for-4, 2B, 3-HR, 2 R) drove in five, while Bouton (3-for-6, 2B, 2 R) and Wilbanks (2-for-4, 3-HR, 2 R) both had three RBIs.

Bradford (1-0) earned his first collegiate win after pitching an inning. Jamie Boatright didn't factor into the decision after allowing six runs on 12 hits in five innings.

Alex Stobert struck out eight in his five-inning start for USC Aiken. Jacob Rye (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) in just 0.1 innings.

Tripp was 3-for-4 with the three-run homer.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will travel to Mobile, Ala. for a non-conference game on Wednesday, March 17 against Spring Hill College. First pitch is at 5 p.m. at Galle Field. 

COUGAR NOTES
• The Columbus State offense set new season-highs in runs (14) and hits (14) on Sunday. It was the third time CSU had six extra-base hits in a game. 
• The nine runs in the sixth are the most scored by the Cougars in any inning this season. The previous high was seven.
• The Cougars have won eight straight series at Burger King Stadium, a streak dating back to the 2019 season. CSU has won 18 of its last 21 at home.
• Bouton has now reached base in 23 consecutive games. Bullock's streak was also extended and now stands at 17 straight. 
• Bullock's five RBIs are the most in a game by a CSU player this season. He is the only player to drive in four or more so far in 2021.
• The Cougars have scored 10 or more runs in five games this year and three times in seven home games. 
• Trawick recorded his first save of his collegiate career after the 2.2 inning appearance. 
• It was the 830th win for head coach Greg Appleton in the Cougar dugout.