HICKORY, N.C. – A late-game rally fell short for the Columbus State baseball team on Saturday afternoon as the Cougars suffered a 16-11 loss at the hands of No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne University at Durham Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars did most of their damage in the early innings, scoring six runs across the first two frames to build a 6-0 lead.
- Junior Jax Yoxtheimer scored the game's first run - the fourth straight game the Phenix City, Alabama native has scored to open the season. Senior Cayden Evans also scored on the errant throw as a double steal from the Cougars forced the LR miscue.
- Fellow junior Jacob Smith recorded an RBI in the opening inning to build the CSU lead to a 3-0 advantage.
- In the top of the second inning, Yoxtheimer doubled to right center and later scored on an RBI single from sophomore Luke Miller before Evans cleared the bases with a two-run home run to move the Cougar to 6-0.
- Lenoir-Rhyne responded with three runs of its own in the home half of the second to cut the Columbus State lead in half.
- Across innings three through six, the Bears put up 11 runs to open up a 14-6 lead with just three innings left to play.
- Columbus State looked to rally in the late innings, scoring five runs across the final three frames, but LR added two late insurance runs to keep the decision in hand.
NOTES
- Yoxtheimer was 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, two runs, and an RBI. The outfielder also had three stolen bases, bringing his season total to eight in four games as a Cougar.
- Junior Corey Berry had the best game of his young Columbus State career, going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.
- Evans had a home run of his own to finish the day 2-for-3 with two RBI, two runs scored, and two walks, while junior Cole Eison (2-for-4) was the third Cougar to finish with multiple hits while scoring two runs of his own.
- Freshman right-hander Logan Shrewsbury made his collegiate debut on the mound, giving up just one run on two hits with a strikeout in 1.2 innings of relief.
- Columbus State is now 0-4 on the year, while Lenoir-Rhyne improved to 2-0 with the win.
UP NEXT
The three-game series between Columbus State and Lenoir-Rhyne concludes tomorrow at 1:00p.m.
