COLUMBUS - The No. 9 Columbus State University baseball team began Peach Belt Conference play with a bang, blasting Claflin University 33-5 on Friday night to start a three-game set at Burger King Stadium on Friday. 

The Cougars tied the program record for runs with their offensive outburst, matching a 33-run effort against Clark Atlanta University during the 2012 season.

Columbus State (15-3) wasted no time on Friday, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead after Cougar starter Devin Dudal threw up a zero on the board in the top half of the first. With two on and one out, Steven Minter opened the lid on the scoring with a three-run home run to straightaway centerfield. 

The Cougar bats really got going in the second as CSU put a nine-spot on the board. Isaac Bouton, Win Johns and Minter all had RBI doubles in the frame, while two Claflin errors contributed to the scoring. 

After a two-run double from Da'Avion Sumpter in the top of the third, Columbus State stretched its lead to 18-2. Robert Brooks was plunked by a pitch before three straight singles made it 13-2. From there, Claflin pitcher Christopher Holly lost his control, forcing home four runs via either a bases-loaded walk or a hit batsman. 

The extra-base hits kept coming in the fourth as Derek Wylie launched a solo homer to left, while doubles by Johns and John Pardue made it a 22-2 game. 

CSU surpassed the 30-run mark in the fifth after a 10-run inning. Matthew McDade continued to swing a hot bat as the junior picked up an RBI double in the inning, while Cooper Krause hit his first collegiate homer later in the inning. It was a three-run shot for the sophomore catcher. Minter picked up two more RBIs in the frame with a double into the left-center gap.

Minter capped off his eight RBI night in the sixth with a solo homer to left. Minter went 5-for-6 with two doubles and home runs. He also scored five times.

Wylie was 3-for-4 with five runs scored to go with his two RBIs, while Krause knocked in four off the bench. Bouton (2-for-3), Johns (2-for-6) and Pardie (2-for-3) all picked up three RBIs.

Dudal (3-2) earned the win after tossing five runs. The senior allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits. Timbo Trawick (1 IP, 1 ER) and Avery Campbell (1 IP, 2 ER) saw action for the Cougars.

UP NEXT
Columbus State and Claflin will wrap up the three-game set on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Burger King Stadium.

COUGAR NOTES
• It's the first five-game winning streak for the Cougars this season
• Columbus State has scored 20 or more runs in four games this year
• The 12 extra-base hits for CSU were season-high. The Cougars legged out seven doubles in the game
• Minter has knocked in 13 runs over his last two games. He has back-to-back multi-homer games and has reached base in 21 straight games
• The Cougars have homered in five straight games and blasted nine over the last two outings=