TIGERVILLE, S.C. - No. 1 North Greenville University stole a 7-6, 10-inning win from No. 9 Columbus State University on Friday to grab a 1-0 advantage in the 2022 NCAA Southeast Super Regional. The best-of-three series is being played at Dillard Field in Tigerville, S.C.

CSU (45-12) was two outs away from a game one win after Peyton Burton opened up the bottom of the ninth with a swinging strikeout. However, back-to-back singles by North Greenville quickly put the tying runs on base.

The second out of the inning was a productive one for the Crusaders as Cory Bivins hit a soft grounder to David Meadows to third that pushed both runners into scoring position. An out away, Burton got the grounder he needed, but the roller was too far up the middle for Cougar shortstop Isaac Bouton to make a clean play on, allowing a run to score and everyone to reach to keep NGU alive a

Ethan Stringer sent the game to extras in the next at-bat, sending a single right back up the middle to tie the game at six.

After CSU stranded a runner in the 10th, Marek Chlup reached to begin the bottom of the 10th for NGU thanks to a fielding error. Chlup made the mistake pay, stealing second with one out before scoring on a walk-off, two-out single from Bryce Roddey. 

North Greenville (49-9) took an early 2-0 lead on Friday before a two-run home run from Derek Wylie tied the game at two in the fourth.

After NGU added a run in the bottom of the fourth, the Cougars took their first lead of the game in the fifth after a three-run outburst. Connor Kirley banged a leadoff double off the right-field wall before Bouton ripped a single into left to re-tie the game. 

Back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Steven Minter, who put the Cougars ahead 4-3 on a sacrificed fly. David Meadows followed with a single to give the Cougars a two-run lead. 

Win Johns padded the Cougars' lead with an RBI single in the seventh, but North Greenville immediately threaten in their half of the frame. A single and a double knocked out CSU starter Noah Windhorst before Leo Giannoni entered to do damage control. NGU plated a run on a fielder's choice before a strikeout and a groundout left the tying runs on base.

Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth before the Crusaders tied the game in the ninth.

Windhorst pitched well in the no-decision, tossing six innings of six-hit ball. He struck out four, while allowing four runs. Giannoni pitched two scoreless innings, while Burton (4-2) allowed three runs (two earned). 

Wylie led the Cougars at the plate with a 3-for-5 performance. The slugger was a triple away from the circle to go with two RBIs. Meadows was 3-for-4 with a RBI and a stolen base.

Jordan Holladay drove in two for North Greenville with a perfect 2-for-2 day.

UP NEXT
Columbus State needs to win two games on Saturday to advance to the 2022 NCAA DII College World Series. All the action begins at noon.