COLUMBUS - The Columbus State University baseball team defeated Quincy University 8-2 Thursday afternoon at Burger King Stadium. The Cougars improve to 5-7 and the Hawks fall to 0-5.

The Cougars got on board in the first inning because of a balk by the Hawks' pitcher, allowing Cody Ferguson to score. CSU scored two more runs in the third inning thanks to a fielding error by Quincy's second baseman, forcing Andrew Rubin to score, and then Isaiah Hernandez had a bases loaded walk, plating Derek Wylie.

Quincy scored one run in the fourth and one in the fifth to close CSU's lead to one run. However, the Cougars tallied on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to a Wylie two-run home run to make it 5-2. Win Johns expanded the Cougars' lead to 6-2 in the seventh with a solo homer.

In the eighth, Ian King scored on a throwing error by the pitcher off of a sacrifice bunt fielder's choice from Ferguson. Colby Brabston then ripped a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Jackson Chizek.

Leo Giannoni collected his first save on the mound after 3.0 innings pitched, striking out six batters and only allowing one hit. Colton Joyner received the win after 6.0 innings and is now 1-2. Wylie tallied two hits and two RBIs.

The Cougars and Hawks will be back at Ragsdale Field on Friday at 4 p.m. for the second game of the three-game series.