WINGATE, N.C. - No. 9 Columbus State University's power was on full display Thursday night as the Cougars slugged four home runs in a 15-8 win over Belmont Abbey College in the opening round of the NCAA Southeast Regional at Ron Christopher Stadium.

The third-seeded Cougars got two long balls from Derek Wylie, another from Steven Minter and then a record-breaking homer from Robert Brooks in the third. Brooks became the all-time home run leader in Columbus State and Peach Belt Conference with his 64th career homer. 

Everything didn't come easier for CSU (43-11) as the Crusaders jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run first-inning single from Ben Gobbel. 

The Cougars quickly responded with a three-run homer from Minter in the bottom of the first and then a solo shot from Brooks in the third to grab a 4-2 lead.

Belmont Abbey (35-18) put up a four-spot in the fourth after three walks contributed to the damage. Ben Ferguson had a bases-clearing double in the inning to put BAC ahead 6-4.

Columbus State's power surge continued as Wylie launched a solo homer in the fourth before he added a three-run shot an inning later to extend CSU's lead to 10-4. Minter and David Meadows also had RBI singles in the five-run fifth.

The Crusaders pulled within three after a solo shot from Gobbel in the sixth, but the Cougars put the game away in the bottom half of the inning. CSU sent nine hitters to the plate in the inning en route to four more runs. Five straight reached during a stretch, including back-to-back two-run singles from Meadows and Wylie.

Both teams added single runs late in the game.

Wylie started the regional with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate. He drove in a season-high six runs thanks in part to his third multi-homer game of the season. 

Minter (2-for-4, 3 runs) drove in four, while Meadows was 4-for-5 with three runs and RBIs. Isaac Bouton and Brooks both had two hits for CSU.

Dudal allowed four runs over 3.1 innings in the no-decision. Chandler Ring (5-0) was awarded the win, while three other Cougar pitchers saw action. Leo Giannoni tossed two scoreless innings.

Ferguson and Gobbel both knocked in three for Belmont Abbey.

UP NEXT
It will be a top-10 showdown on Friday as the Cougars take on No. 5 Wingate University in the winner's bracket at 7 p.m.