MOBILE, Ala. - The 25th-ranked Columbus State University baseball team couldn't climb out of an early hole, dropping a 10-6 affair to Spring Hill College on Wednesday. The game was played at Hank Aaron Stadium. 

Playing its fifth game in four days, CSU (24-12) held a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third before the Badgers (18-12) platted five in the frame to seize control. The Cougars were never able to recover, despite threatening to rally in the seventh and eighth.

Spring Hill scored the first runs of the game in the first on a two-run homer by Grayson Williams off of CSU starter Brady Kais. However, the Cougars came right back with a pair of runs in the second and one in the third to take the 3-2 lead. In the second, Steven Minter got things started with a leadoff single and scored one play later on a David Meadows double down the left field line. Meadows came around to score later in the inning on a wild pitch.

Isaac Bouton was the catalyst for the early go-ahead run in the third after finding a gap in right-center for a one-out triple. He later scored on a Colby Brabston groundout.

The Badgers got to Kais in the third as three straight singles loaded the bases with no outs. Kais nearly got out of the jam by allowing just one run, but Bryce Walker struck for a three-run homer to put SHC ahead 7-3.

Columbus State made it 7-4 in the fourth, but Spring Hill scored two more in the sixth to take a five-run advantage. 

In the seventh, the Cougars were in business as Matthew McDade found himself in scoring position after a one-out single and a wild pitch. Hunter Woodall followed with a single to make it 9-5, while Bouton drew a walk to put two on for Brabston. However, the second-year freshman was unlucky, lining into an inning-ending double play.

The Cougars added another run on the board in the eighth when Robert Brooks touched the plate following an error. The junior catcher led off the inning with a double for his second hit of the afternoon.

CSU did manage a hit in the ninth, but another double play ended the game. 

Meadows led the Cougars with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. The junior had a double while picking up an RBI and scoring a run. Bouton (2-for-4, R) and Brooks (2-for-4, 2B, R) both had two-hit days.

Six different pitchers worked for Columbus State. Kais (2-2) took the loss after allowing seven runs in his first Cougar start. Timbo Trawick (2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 K) and Zack Brockman (1 IP, 1 H) both had scoreless outings.

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Columbus State will conclude the 2021 regular season this weekend with a series against UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C. The Cougars and Braves will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. before meeting for a single game on Sunday.