COLUMBUS - Spring Hill College jumped on the No. 12 Columbus State University baseball team early to grab an 8-5 win on Saturday afternoon to begin a three-game non-conference series at Burger King Stadium in Columbus. 

SHC (4-0) scored at least a run in three of the first four innings to take a 6-0 lead forcing the Cougars to play catchup for the afternoon.

"When teams jump on you like that, it's tough to regain the momentum," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "They have a talented lineup and took it to us, but it was nice to see the guys have some fight in them. Tomorrow is a new day, and we need to throw some zeros on the board early."

The Badgers took a quick 1-0 lead after Gage Ragona led the game off with a homer off of CSU starter Devin Dudal. Cade Simpson added another solo shot in the second before three straight two-out singles platted another one for the visitors. 

Most of Spring Hill's damage came in the third, with CSU assisting the Badgers. In the inning, the Cougar pitching staff handed out four free passes (two walks & two HBP) as Spring Hill added three more to go up 6-0.

Seth Nelson got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run shot over the left-field wall.

Columbus State (4-1) made a comeback attempt in the sixth. Matthew McDade started the rally with a one-out single before SHC pitcher Colin Millar lost his control. The reliever walked the bases loaded to bring up Robert Brooks. The slugger drew a walk, forcing a run home to make it 6-3; however, Jackson Short entered the game and got a groundout to escape the jam.

The Badgers added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth. Ragona ripped a double to plate a run in the seventh, while Norris McClure had an RBI single in the eighth to push the margin to 8-3.

CSU showed their power in the ninth, but it was too late. Brooks hit a solo bomb to start the frame before Derek Wylie hit a two-run homer to push across the final runs for Columbus State.

Dudal (1-1) took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in three innings. The senior did punch out five. Austin Elliot (2 IP, 0 R, 3 BB) and Colin Koprowski (1 IP, 1 K) were two of the four relievers used by the Cougars.

Wylie was the lone Cougar with a multi-hit day after going 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Colby Brabston was 1-for-2 with three walks. 

Ragona was 3-for-3 with two extra-base hits and four RBIs. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State and Spring Hill will play a doubleheader at Burger King Stadium on Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m. to conclude the three-game set. 

COUGAR NOTES
• The Cougars left 12 runners on-base on Saturday
• Connor Kirley picked up his sixth steal of the year, while Brabston swiped his first bag of 2022
• CSU drew 10 walks in the game. It's the second time the Cougar offense has taken 10 or more free passes in a game already this season
• CSU's pitching staff allowed a season-high eight runs and walked six
• Brooks extended his hitting streak to 18 games, while his on-base streak now sits at 34 straight.