COLUMBUS, GA. – Sunday's Peach Belt Conference doubleheader saw the Columbus State baseball team collect two victories by run rule over Claflin University, 17-3 and 11-1, inside Burger King Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)
- The Cougars scored three runs across the game's opening two innings, including an RBI single from senior Cayden Evans and an RBI triple by fellow senior Jackson Chizek.
- RBI doubles from junior Jax Yoxtheimer and sophomore Victor Junco as well as an RBI single from senior Bryce Knox in the fourth inning, moved the CSU lead to 7-0.
- Evans added an RBI double in the fifth inning and later scored on a balk to give the Cougars a 9-0 advantage.
- Claflin broke through for three runs on just two hits and a Columbus State error in the top of the sixth inning.
- In the home half of the sixth, Columbus State erupted for eight runs on five hits, four walks, and two batters hit by pitch to extend the advantage to 17-3.
- Knox, Yoxtheimer, junior Corey Berry, and sophomore Luke Miller each had at least one RBI in the sixth inning.
- Junior right-hander Wyatt Tharpe pitched a near-perfect seventh inning out of the bullpen to seal the victory for CSU.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)
- Columbus State once again jumped on the scoreboard early, scoring three runs in the first inning with two RBI singles from Evans and Chizek as well as a bases-loaded walk drawn by Miller.
- Claflin plated its only run of the game in the second inning on a Columbus State fielding error.
- In the third, senior Landon Jensen drove in a run with an RBI single, while Knox recorded an RBI of his own in the fourth to put CSU ahead 6-1.
- A sacrifice fly from Eison put the Cougars up 7-1 before a two-run sixth inning moved the advantage to 9-1, thanks to one RBI each from Jensen and Berry.
- Columbus State put the game away in the home half of the seventh frame, scoring on back-to-back RBI singles from Knox and Chizek for a 10-run victory.
NOTES
- Sophomore right-hander Sawyer Wilson (1-1) picked up his first win of the season in game one, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with five strikeouts across five innings on the mound.
- Senior Connor Folds (1-2) got his first victory in a Cougar uniform in game two, allowing just one unearned run on four hits with a season-high strikeouts in five innings of work.
- Sophomore right-hander Bailey Thorne threw two innings of scoreless relief, striking out five of the nine batters he faced out of the bullpen.
- Junco was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in game one, while Eison was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI in game two.
- Chizek recorded five hits on the day, including a double and a triple, to go along with three walks, four runs scored, and three RBI.
- Evans collected four hits across the two games, including two doubles, with four runs and three RBI.
- Knox drove in five RBI, three in game one and two more in game two, as Yoxtheimer had two doubles, four walks, six runs scored, and four stolen bases.
- After starting the season 0-5, the Cougars have won five of their last seven games, including four in a row, and have a 4-2 record in PBC play.
UP NEXT
Columbus State steps out of conference play next weekend for a three-game series against Ohio Dominican University on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's doubleheader with the Panthers is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start on Feb. 28, followed by a single game on Sunday, March 1 at 1:00 p.m.
