COLUMBUS - The ninth-ranked Columbus State University baseball team used five early runs to cruise to a 10-1 midweek win over Auburn University-Montgomery on Wednesday night at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.

The Cougars (36-8) pushed across a pair of runs in the first before three in the second built an early 5-0 lead.

"Our pitchers were aggressive today and looked good," commented head coach Greg Appleton. "Jamie [Boatright] was on early, and the bullpen got in some needed work before this weekend."

CSU's offense immediately put pressure on AUM starter Will Collins as Isaac Bouton and Colby Brabston began the bottom of the first with back-to-back singles. Collins didn't make things easier on himself from there, walking Robert Brooks and then David Meadows to force home the game's opening run. 

Derek Wylie knocked in the inning's second run with a single as he started an outstanding game at the plate.   

Jamie Boatright threw a perfect second before the Cougars went back to work. It was again the top of the order that got things going, with Bouton drawing an out-out walk before Brabston found his second hit of the game to bring up Brooks. The graduate senior capitalized on the run-scoring chance by placing a single into left to chase Collins from the game. 

After the pitching change, Steven Minter collected his first hit back in the lineup to score Brabston, while a throwing error made it a 5-0 Cougar lead.

AUM's (28-18) best chance to get back in the game came in the fifth. Matthew Marfice began the frame with a leadoff double before back-to-back one-out singles made it a 5-1 game and left two on for the top of the Warhawk order. However, Leo Giannoni entered from the bullpen and induced a groundball double play to escape the jam.

The Cougars put the game away in the bottom on the fifth on a Minter solo homer and a two-run blast from Wylie. 

Wylie added his second home run of the night in the bottom of the eighth to cap off the scoring. John Pardue also had a RBI single for the Cougars late in the game.

CSU pounded out 10 hits, with Wylie leading the way with a 3-for-5 performance with four RBIs. Brooks (2-for-3, 2 BBs, 2 runs) was one of three CSU players with two hits.

Boatright got a no-decision after tossing 4.1 innings. The lefty allowed one run on six hits while striking out three. Giannoni (2-0) collected the win after 1.2 perfect innings, while Zack Brockman, Logan Seehafer and Peyton Burton all threw scoreless innings. 

UP NEXT
Columbus State looks to capture the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship this weekend as the Cougars begin a three-game series with Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla. Game one is on Friday at 6 p.m.

COUGAR NOTES
• The Cougars have won 25 straight home midweek games dating back to Feb. 2017
• CSU closes out the regular season with a 19-5 record in Columbus
• Columbus State has hit a home run in 21 straight games
• Brooks has reached base in 18 straight games. He knocked in his PBC-leading 65th run on Wednesday
• The Cougars avoided back-to-back losses with the win. CSU has not lost two straight games in 2022
• CSU has scored 10 or more runs in 23 games this season
• CSU swept AUM in a home-and-home series, outscoring the Warhawks 25-5 in the two victories