COLUMBUS - The No. 8 Columbus State University baseball team grabbed two come from behind victories on Saturday against Quincy University at Burger King Stadium in Columbus.

In the opener, the Cougars scored two runs in the seventh to grab an 8-7 walkoff win before plating eight in the sixth to secure a 10-6 win in the nightcap. 

"These were two wild games," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "Both of them could've gone either way, but we're glad to come out on top in both. These guys never quit though and it was good to see them fighting until the end."

Game One | CSU 8-7

It was a slugfest to begin the day on Saturday as the two teams combined to hit five homers. Lance Logsdon started the home run derby with a two-run homer off of Noah Windhorst in the first before Isaac Bouton slammed one over the left-field wall to begin CSU's half of the first. 

Columbus State took its first lead of the afternoon in the third on a three-run shot by Robert Brooks. Connor Kirley, who doubled, and Bouton scored on the blast.

The two sides exchanged bombs in the fourth. Tanner Dreher hit a solo homer for the Hawks, while Matthew McDade continued his great play of late with a two-run blast to put the Cougars in front 6-3.

Quincy (3-3) rallied furiously late in the game to grab a 7-6 lead. In the sixth, two walks and a single from Dreher loaded the bases with one out for the Hawks before a bases-loaded walk issued by CSU reliever Leo Giannoni cut the lead to 6-4. After a pitching change, Dayson Croes found a spot in right field for an RBI single against Zack Brockman.

Brockman was able to work out of the jam in the sixth, but he was unable to do it again in the seventh as Quincy took a 7-6 lead. Nolan Wosman began the inning with a single before Brockman got a strikeout and popup to inch CSU closer to the win. However, three straight singles, including a go-head hit by Gino D'Alessio put the Hawks on top.

The Cougars got the spark they needed in the seventh as Kirley drew a leadoff walk and Win Johns was plunked by a pitch to put the go-ahead run on base. Sam Stephens was able to strike out Brooks for the second out in the inning, but a wild pitch during the at-bat put both runners in scoring position for Steven Minter.

Minter would deliver for the Cougars, sending a quick one-hopper that D'Alessio couldn't handle at short. The ball trickled into the outfield off the deflection allowing Kirley and Johns to score for the walkoff victory.

Brooks (1-for-3, 3-run HR) finished with a team-high three RBIs, while McDade (1-for-3, 2-run HR) knocked in two.

Peyton Burton (1-0) picked up the win after recording an out against the only batter he faced in the seventh. Windhorst tossed five innings, allowing three runs on three hits in the no-decision. The sophomore struck out five.

Dreher (3-for-4, HR) had three hits for the Hawks, while Logsdon (1-for-3) drove in two thanks to his 2-run homer.

GAME 2 | CSU 10-6

It was all about the eight-run sixth for the Cougars in the nightcap as CSU trailed 6-2 after Quincy scored two runs in the top of the sixth.

Bouton started the inning with a bang, by lacing a double over the right fielders' head before things went south for the Quincy pitching staff. A walk and a hit batsman loaded the bases before QU went to the bullpen for Brandon Repking. Repking's first batter was Minter, and during the at-bat, a passed ball allowed a run to score before the Cougar drew a four-pitch walk.

With the bases loaded, David Meadows stepped into the box and ripped a single into left field that made it a 6-4 Hawk lead. 

Things didn't improve for Quincy as an error and three straight bases-loaded walks put the Cougars in front 8-6.

Bouton was plunked with a pitch in his second at-bat of the inning to force home another run, while Brooks made it 10-6 on a sacrifice fly.

Seehafer was able to pitch around a walk and double in the seventh to secure the 10-6 win.

It was CSU who scored the opening run in the game in the second. Minter began the inning with a double before Meadows singled to put runners on the corners. The Cougars would then pull off a perfectly executed first-and-third play that allowed Minter to cross the plate.

Cougar starter Jamie Boatright was cruising into the fourth but ran into trouble after back-to-back leadoff singles from the Hawks. After Wosman tied the game on a single, Luke Napleton smacked a three-run blast to put Quincy ahead 4-1.

Columbus State got a run back in the fifth as McDade hit a solo shot over the left-centerfield wall.

Quincy looked to put the game away after scoring two in the sixth against Chandler Ring. Ring hit Austin Simpson to begin the inning before a double by Napleton put two in scoring position. Dreher continued his great day at the plate, knocking in both runs with a single up the middle with one out to put QU on top 6-2. 

That would be the final run Quincy would score as the Cougars stormed back for the win.

Bouton (2-for-3) had two doubles for the Cougars with Meadows going 2-for-3 with an RBI single. McDade (1-for-2, 2-run HR) scored twice to go with his two RBIs.

Boatright allowed four runs in 3.1 innings of work in his second start of the year, while Ring (3-0) picked up his third win of the year after tossing 2.2 innings in relife.

Napleton (2-for-4, 3-run HR) was on of three Hawks with two hits.

Griffin Krin struck out five in his five-inning outing for Quincy. He allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits.

UP NEXT
Columbus State and Quincy will wrap up the four-game set on Sunday at Burger King Stadium. First pitch has been moved up an hour to noon due to rain chances in the Columbus area.

GAME NOTES
• Brooks moved into a fifth-place tie on the Peach Belt Conference all-time home run list on Saturday. He now has 51 and is tied with Georgia College's Aaron Fera (1996-99) in the record book
• McDade has hit four homers and driven in nine over the past four games
• Minter's on-base streak is now at 18 games, while Bouton has a 10-game hitting streak. Bouton has two or more his in three of the past five games 
• Ring's three wins ties him for the PBC lead
• Columbus State was out-hit 19-13 in the two games