COLUMBUS - Colby Brabston laced a single down the third baseline to give the No. 9 Columbus State University a 4-3 walkoff victory over Augusta University on Friday. The three-game Peach Belt Conference series is taking place at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium in Columbus.

CSU (4-2, 4-2 PBC) found itself ahead 3-0 in the top of sixth when Augusta loaded the bases off of Cougar starter Jalen Latta. A double and a single got things started for the Jaguars before Latta retired the next two hitters he faced. The senior was one strike away from escaping the jam, but the lefty plunked Michael Bryant to extend the inning. Harrison Aulds would make Columbus State pay, ripping a double into the left-centerfield gap to tie the game at three.

Augusta (1-4, 1-3 PBC) found itself in a similar predicament in the bottom of the seventh. The Cougars loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a single, walk and a hit batter. However, AU reliever Cotton Phillips was able to keep the game tied after getting Matthew McDade to fly out to right.

Cougar relievers Zack Brockman and Miles Dutton kept the Jags at bay over the eighth and ninth bringing up the heart of the CSU lineup to the plate.

Robert Brooks reached first on a short-hop chopper to the third, while Steven Minter curled a double down the left field line to put the winning run at third. AU decided to pitch to Brabston with first base open, and the second-year freshman would deliver. On a 1-2 pitch, Brabston rifled a single over the third base bag to send the Cougars home winners.

"It was good to see the guys bounce back," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "It felt like the momentum switch late in the game, but our bullpen was light outs tonight and gave our bats a chance. We really need to come out here tomorrow and play our brand of ball."
 
David Meadows scored the opening run of the game in the first after doubling to leadoff the frame. He later crossed the plate on a Bullock fielder's choice. 

Latta was cruising through the middle innings, including striking out the side in the third, to keep the Cougars ahead. The Columbus native finished the night allowing three runs over six innings. He struck out a season-high seven.

A Connor Kirley double started the bottom of the fifth before a single by Isaac Bouton made it a 2-0 game. Brooks followed with a single of his own, while Bullock was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Minter cashed in on the RBI chance by skying a fly ball to left-center to put the Cougars up 3-0.

Before the Cougars rallied in the ninth, Bouton nearly gave CSU a lead, but a deep fly ball fell short of the centerfield wall to keep the game tied at three.

Brooks finished the night 4-for-5, while six other Cougars picked up a hit. Brabston was 1-for-3 with two walks. 

Brockman threw two scoreless innings before Dutton pitched a perfect ninth to collect the win. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State and Augusta will conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game of the day will begin at 1 p.m. with the second starting approximately 30 minutes following the final out. 

Cougar Notes
• The walkoff single was the second go-ahead or game-winning hit for Brabston. The lefty also put the Cougars ahead 10-9 in the ninth in the series opener against Lander University last weekend. 
• Columbus State improves to 16-7 under Appleton in home openers.
• The Cougars have won nine straight at Burger King Stadium dating back to 2020. 
• CSU tied a season-high with 10 hits. The Cougars have recorded nine or more hits in five of their six games.
• It was the first time this season the Cougar pitching staff limited their opponents to three runs or fewer.
• It was Brooks' second career four-hit game. The other performance came during 2019 as the fourth-year junior went 4-for-6 against Saint Leo.
• The Cougars improve to 101-24 all-time against Augusta. CSU has also won 11 straight in the series.
• Bullock has now found a hit in 11 straight games, while Bouton has reached base in 17 straight. Brooks' on-base streak now stands at 14.