MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - Despite holding leads in both games, the No. 16 Columbus State University baseball team dropped both ends of a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader to Georgia College on Saturday. The series was played at John Kurtz Field.

Georgia College (11-5, 10-5 PBC) scored three runs in the sixth and seventh to rally for a 9-6 win over the Cougars in game one before recording a 9-8 12-inning victory in the nightcap. 

Game 1 (GC 9-6)

After falling behind 1-0 early, Columbus State (9-6, 8-6) struck for three runs in the third. Four runners reached base without the benefit of a hit for CSU with two errors, a walk and a hit batter forcing in the first Cougar run of the game. Dane Bullock made the errors hurt as he laced a two-out single to put the Cougars on top 3-1.

The lead didn't last long though. Georgia College tied the game in the bottom half of the third thanks to a double and a sacrifice fly off of CSU starter Tyler Cadenhead. 

In the fifth, another Bobcat error helped the Cougars retake the lead. With Isaac Bouton and Bullock on the corners, Win Johns put the ball in play where the shortstop mishandled the grounder allowing Bouton to cross the plate.

Columbus State's defense let the pitching staff down in the sixth after an error extended the inning. In a 4-4 game, Brandon Bellflower had the big blow with a two-run single to put the Bobcats back in front. 

The Cougars got one run back in the seventh on a Robert Brooks RBI single, but Jay Saunders found a gap in left field for a double to extend the GC lead to 9-5.

David Meadows drove in the final run of the game as CSU's rally failed short.

Meadows (2-for-5, R) had two hits and a stolen base. Brooks (1-for-4) and Bullock (2-for-4) each drove in a pair.

Cadenhead pitched well but didn't factor into the decision. In 5.2 innings, the fifth-year senior allowed three runs on six hits. Noah Windhorst (1-1) took the loss after recording just one out. Jake Hershman tossed two scoreless innings.

Cam Hill was 3-for-5 with two RBIs for Georgia College. 

Game 2 (GC 9-8/12 inn)

The Cougars were outs away from a dramatic win in the nightcap, but a ninth-inning rally by Georgia College sent the game to extras.

Columbus State was down 5-4 heading into the eighth when Connor Kirley gave the Cougars life with a two-out double. Following back-to-back walks, Brooks launched a grand slam over the left field wall to give CSU an 8-5 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Bobcats got to Cougar closer Brady Kais. Three singles, including a two-out, game-tying hit by Noah Mendlinger, tied the game at eight.

Columbus State stranded the would-be, go-ahead run in scoring position in both the 11th and 12th before Cal Gentry delivered the walkoff hit for the Bobcats.

GC got to Cougar starter Jamie Boatright early with a pair of runs in the first, but the Cougars responded with three of their own in the second.

With Steven Minter on third and two gone, Will Wilbanks picked up an RBI single to center to put the first run on the board for CSU. Garrett Houston would then lose his control, walking the next four Cougar hitters to force in two more runs.

After Bullock added to the lead with a solo homer in the third, Georgia College scored a run in each of the next three innings to move in front. The Bobcats found timely two-out hits in the third and fifth off of Boatright to inch ahead 5-4.

Both pitching staff would settle in until the final two innings, including a great performance by Cougar reliever Miles Dutton. The senior allowed just one hit over three innings of work and was in line for the win before the GC comeback.

Boatright went five innings in the start. The lefty allowed five runs on eight hits. Dalton Bradford (1-1) took the loss. 

Brooks (2-for-6, grand slam) was the only Cougar with multiple hits. 

Cal Gentry was 3-for-7 with a double for GC. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State hosts a midweek game against Albany State University on Wednesday, March 24. First pitch is at 4 p.m. at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium.

COUGAR NOTES
• The grand slam was the 30th home run in Brooks' Cougar career.  He becomes just the ninth CSU player to reach the mark.
• Bouton's on-base streak now stands at 26 games heading into Wednesday's game.
• Three of CSU's last seven games have gone into extras. The Cougars are 2-1 in extras this season.
• It's the first time since March 29-31, 2019, that the Cougars have been swept in a three-game series. Flagler College was the last team to accomplish the feat.  
• Georgia College has won eight of the past nine games against the Cougars in Milledgeville. 
• CSU is on a five-game road losing streak. The Cougars are 3-5 away from Burger King Stadium this year.
• The Cougars have allowed seven or more runs in four straight.