COLUMBUS - The No. 9 Columbus State University baseball team capped off a three-game series sweep of Augusta University on Saturday after a pair of 11-1 victories. The Peach Belt Conference series was played at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium.

Following a thrilling 4-3 win on Friday, the Cougars had walkoff victories in both games of the doubleheader; however, the game-clinching hits came in the seventh inning on Saturday to give CSU mercy-rule wins.

"It was a solid performance by everyone today," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "We got two solid outings from our starters, and it was nice to see our bats continuing to find holes. Hopefully, we can carry the momentum into next week against both West Georgia and USC Aiken."

Game One (CSU 11-1)

After the Cougar infield turned a double play to end the top half of the first, the offense was itching to get to the plate as the first three hitters reached. Robert Brooks was one of the base runners, but his single did more damage than it should. The ball was misplayed in left, allowing David Meadows to score the opening run of the game. Steven Minter and Will Wilbanks added to the lead later in the inning with doubles to give Columbus State an early 4-0 lead.

Columbus State starter Tyler Cadenhead (2-0) didn't need much run support. The senior tossed five innings to pick up his second win of the year. He struck out seven while not issuing a walk. 

Augusta's best chance against the righty came in the fourth. An error and back-to-back singles loaded the bases with no outs. Cadenhead would come roaring back though striking out the next three hitters he faced to keep the Jaguars off the board.

Columbus State made AU pay for the missed opportunity later in the inning. With Connor Kirley on second, Isaac Bouton launched his first homer of the year over the left field wall to up CSU's lead to 6-0.

Each side hit a solo homer in the sixth to trade runs. Trent Maddox recorded Augusta's lone run of the afternoon with a laser to right, while Wilbanks followed with one over the right field wall as well. 

The Cougars completed the 10-run mercy rule victory after scoring four runs in the seventh. CSU had one runner on with two outs when Dane Bullock singled and Minter drew a walk to load the bases and extend the inning for Friday's hero, Colby Brabston. The second-year freshman would deliver another key hit, this time a two-run double to make it a 9-1 game. 

Following a pitching change, Wilbanks watched four straight balls before Matthew McDade ended things. The right-handed batter found a hole to chase home Minter and Brabston to put the finishing touches on the win.

Five Cougars had two RBIs in the game, with four of the five each having two hits. Bouton was 2-for-5 with three runs scored to go along with his two RBIs. Wilbanks had a double and a homer.

Noah Windhorst (2 IP, 1 ER, 2 K's) threw the final two innings for Columbus State. 

Game Two (CSU 11-1)

The nightcap started similar to game one as Columbus State found itself with an early lead. A walk and an error brought Bullock to the plate with one out. The fifth-year senior didn't wait long to make an impact, blasting a three-run shot to left to put the hosts on top.

From there, it was the Jamie Boatright show. The lefty had his stuff working all night, retiring 14 of the first 17 hitters he faced. The lone blemish on his record came in the sixth inning on a Skylor Murphy RBI double. 

Boatright (1-0) was still strong towards the end of the game. The Powder Springs, Ga. native struck out two in the seventh to finish his complete-game performance with five on the night. 

The Cougars plated three more in the fourth. McDade tallied another extra-base hit that scored Win Johns before Kirley legged out a bunt single. After Kirley swiped second, Meadows hit CSU's second double of the inning to make it 6-0.

Columbus State continued to add on. In the fifth, singles by Seth Nelson and McDade gave the Cougars an 8-0 advantage. CSU scored another pair of runs in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly. 

The Cougars led 10-1 in the seventh and needed just one run in the frame to force the mercy-rule victory. Kirley and Meadows set the table for the offense with back-to-back singles before Bouton was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With the clinching run 90 feet away, a wild pitch allowed Kirley to score to give the Cougars their third straight walkoff win.

Bullock (2-for-3, 2B, HR) scored three times and drove in three more, while Minter was 3-for-4. Meadows, Nelson and McDade all had recorded two RBIs.

UP NEXT
Columbus State will play its first non-conference and midweek game of the year on Wednesday, March 10, against the University of West Georgia. First pitch is at 4 p.m. at Ragsdale Field at Burger King Stadium.

COUGAR NOTES
• The Cougars scored 26 runs over the three games on 35 hits. CSU had nine doubles over the weekend, with Minter and Meadows each having two.
• CSU has collected 10 or more hits in four straight games and nine or more in six of the eight games so far in 2021. The lineup produced a season-high 13 games in the series finale. 
• The wins by Cadenhead and Boatright were the first by Cougar starting pitchers this season. The duo combined to throw 12 innings, allowing one run with 12 strikeouts.
•  Kirley and Minter both stole two bases on Sunday. The Cougars entered the day with just five on the year.
• Minter had driven in two runs in four of his first eight games as a Cougar.
• The Cougars extended their home winning streak to 11 games.
• Bullock continues his hot start to the year. The senior has a hit in all eight games and holds a 13-game hitting streak dating back to last season.
• Bouton also extended his on-base streak to 19 games.  
• Columbus State is now 103-24 all-time against Augusta and has won 13 straight in the series.