LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Columbus State University baseball opened the 2025 campaign with game one of a three-game weekend at West Alabama in Livingston, Ala.
The Cougars (1-0) secured a 7-0 victory on Friday night, capturing the fifth consecutive win over the Tigers (0-1) and the eighth in the last ten meetings.
Columbus State spent no time getting on the scoreboard, as
Jackson Chizek was pushed home on an RBI ground out from
Cody Ferguson to give CSU an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. After a rather swift and scoreless second frame, the Cougars pieced together five hits to help score five runs in the top half of the third inning.
Luke Miller, Ferguson, and
Bryce Knox gathered singles with Knox bringing home Miller on an RBI single to right field for the 2-0 lead.
Michael Cruz etched his name to the score book with an RBI single to left center to push Ferguson in for the third run of the night. Capping off the inning,
Warrick Wilmot doubled down the right field line for three RBIs and a 6-0 advantage.
Columbus State tallied another score in the fourth inning with a single from Miller and an RBI double from
Cayden Evans to boost the edge to seven runs. The stellar starting performance of
Trace Goforth on the mound held the Tigers hitless until the bottom half of the fifth. Goforth finished with seven strikeouts for the evening.
Both teams closed out in scoreless efforts for the final few innings, struggling to find offensive production.
Trenton Burnett pitched for three innings of relief capped off by an inning's worth of work from
Joey Gill to seal the game shut. Burnett finished with three walks, two strikeouts, and one hit allowed while Gill walked one batter, struck out two, and gave up a hit.
Inside the Numbers
- Miller and Evans led the bats with two hits each, leading the Cougars who tallied eight hits as a team.
- Wilmot led with three RBIs on his lone double while Miller scored two runs.
- Cruz, Evans, Ferguson, and Knox recorded one RBI each.
- Columbus State opens the season with a win for the first time since the 2022 season.
Next Up
- The Cougars continue the weekend series at West Alabama with a single game tomorrow at 3 p.m. ET in Livingston.
