COLUMBUS – Columbus State baseball defeated USC Aiken 5-4 during game one of the weekend series.
Columbus State 5, USC Aiken 4
Columbus State opened the score early in the first inning after Cayden Evans homered to right field. After a hit-less drought from both teams in the second and third innings, Cole Eison blasted a home run in the fourth to put the Cougars up 2-0.
Columbus State lost the lead in the sixth inning after the Pacers collected three runs. An opening walk followed by a home run brought in two runs. Soon followed another home run from the Pacers to take a 3-2 lead.
Two opening walks and an error by the Pacers in the sixth inning allowed Columbus State to tie the game. A fielder's choice helped the Cougars bring in another run to regain the lead.
The Pacers hit their third home run of the night in the eighth inning to tie the game 4-4. The Cougars ended the game in the ninth inning with an unearned run to take game one 5-4.
Inside the Numbers
- The Cougars tallied five hits while the Pacers tallied four.
- Jackson Chizek led with two hits while Evans, Eison, and Ethan Crawley had one apiece.
- The Pacers recorded three home runs while CSU recorded two.
- Trace Goforth tossed for the first 5.2 innings with six strikeouts, three hits, three runs, and two walks.
- Ian King collected twelve putouts for the afternoon.
- Bailey Thorne(3-2) captured the win after he tossed for 3.1 innings with four strikeouts, one hit, one run, and one walk.
Next Up
- Columbus State will host game two of the series on Saturday, March 22 at Ragsdale Field at 2 p.m. ET.
