COLUMBUS, GA. – The Columbus State baseball team picked up its first win of the young 2026 campaign in walk-off fashion on Wednesday evening, defeating Albany State University 7-6 in 10 innings of play at Burger King Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Albany State scored first in the opening inning, using a two-out RBI double to plate the game's first run.
- Columbus State responded in the home half of the opening frame as junior Jax Yoxtheimer reached on a lead-off single and later scored on an Albany State fielding error.
- The Cougars took a 2-1 lead just two batters later when senior Warrick Wilmot drove in his first RBI of the game with a ground out to first that brought fellow senior Jackson Chizek home from third.
- A one-out single followed by back-to-back doubles in the second inning put the Golden Rams ahead 3-2.
- In the fifth inning, Wilmot used an RBI double to right field to bring Yoxtheimer across the plate and even the score at 3-all.
- The Golden Rams scratched across the go-ahead run in the seventh inning on a solo home run from Luke Addison and added two insurance runs to the board in the ninth.
- Sophomore Victor Junco sparked a ninth-inning rally with a pinch-hit single to open the frame, before senior Cayden Evans drove in two runs with a two-out RBI double to right field, which cut the deficit to just one run.
- Senior Bryce Knox kept the momentum going with a two-out RBI single of his own to tie the game at 6-6 and force extra innings.
- Sophomore Bailey Thorne entered the game in relief in the top of the 10th inning, putting the Golden Rams down in order with a ground out and two strikeouts.
- In the home half of the 10th, senior Landen Jensen drew a lead-off walk before giving way to pinch runner Gryson Cockrell.
- Cockrell advanced to third after a ground out and fly out before scoring the game-winning run on an RBI single from senior Jackson Chizek.
NOTES
- Chizek returned from an injury sustained in the second game of the season to record two hits, one run, and one RBI.
- Evans was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, two RBI, and two walks.
- Knox also had three hits and an RBI, while Wilmot drove in two runs for his second straight multi-RBI game.
- Yoxtheimer recorded two hits, two walks, and a pair of stolen bases, bringing his season total to 10, ranking him second among all of NCAA Division II.
- Freshman right-hander Logan Shrewsbury threw 3.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one run on two hits with three strikeouts.
- Junior Danny Hershberger made his third appearance of the season on the mound and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning with a strikeout.
UP NEXT
Columbus State begins Peach Belt Conference play on Friday with a three-game series against Flagler College. First pitch from Burger King Stadium is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
