COLUMBUS, GA. – The Columbus State baseball team collected an 11-0 win over Peach Belt foe Claflin University in just seven innings of play on Saturday night inside Burger King Stadium. The league contest came to an early end as a result of the NCAA run rule.
Saturday night's victory was the Cougars' third of the season and marked a milestone moment for Head Coach Greg Appleton, who registered his 1,000th career win at the helm of Columbus State baseball. As it now stands, Appleton owns a career record of 1,127-604 across 33 seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 1,000 - 520 mark at CSU.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Columbus State scored twice in the game's opening inning of play thanks to a two-run home run from senior Bryce Knox down the left field line.
- In the second inning, an RBI double from sophomore Luke Miller and RBI singles by juniors Cole Eison and Jax Yoxtheimer moved the Cougar lead to 5-0 over Claflin.
- Eison added his second RBI of the game in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to give CSU a 6-0 advantage.
- The Cougar hung another crooked letter on the scoreboard in the home half of the sixth inning, scoring five runs on four hits and four Claflin errors to build a double-digit lead.
- Junior Corey Berry scored the inning's first run on a throwing error by the Panthers' catcher trying to throw out Yoxtheimer's stolen base attempt at second base.
- With the bases loaded, senior Jackson Chizek doubled to left center to drive in three runs. The Loganville, Ga. native scored in the same sequence after taking advantage of another Panther throwing error.
- Senior right-hander Tucker Starling closed the door in the seventh inning, collecting two strikeouts to keep Claflin off the board.
NOTES
- Junior right-hander Connor Michel (1-3) turned in the best performance of his young Columbus State career, earning his first win after allowing just three hits with four strikeouts in four innings on the mound.
- Freshman Logan Shrewsbury tossed one inning of relief, giving up a lone hit in his fourth appearance of 2026, while Starling pitched two innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts.
- Yoxtheimer led the offense with a 3-for-4 evening, including a walk, a run scored, an RBI, and two stolen bases.
- Chizek finished 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI, while Miller was a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks and a run scored.
- Eison and Knox recorded two RBI each in the win, and Knox's first-inning blast was his second of the season.
UP NEXT
Columbus State and Claflin conclude their three-game PBC series tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
