COLUMBUS, GA. – Senior
Bryce Knox provided the late-game heroics for Columbus State University on Saturday, connecting on a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning to lead CSU to a 5-2 win over visiting Lander University at Burger King Stadium.
Columbus State has now won four straight Peach Belt Conference weekend series and moves its overall record to 16-9 overall with a 10-4 mark in Peach Belt play with the win, while Lander falls to 16-13 on the year with a 10-7 PBC record.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The two sides were locked in a classic pitcher's duel early on as Columbus State starter Connor Folds and Lander starter Jake Monroe allowed just one combined hit across the game's first three innings of play.
- Lander broke the scoreless tie with a run in the fourth inning before the Cougars responded with a run of their own in the home half of the frame. Sophomore Luke Miller drew a bases-loaded walk with two out to score Knox from third and even the game at one run apiece.
- In the eighth, the Bearcats retook the lead, 2-1, on a one-out single to right field.
- The Lander lead did not last long as junior Jax Yoxtheimer drew a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the eighth and Columbus State loaded the bases with back-to-back bunt singles from seniors Jackson Chizek and Cayden Evans.
- Knox stepped to the plate with the bases full of Cougars and battled through a seven-pitch at-bat to force a full count before sending a ball over the left field fence to put CSU ahead 5-2 with an inning to play.
- Senior Tucker Starling stranded two Bearcats on the base paths in the top of the ninth to preserve the win.
NOTES
- Folds was stellar in his eighth start of the season, pitching a season-high 7.1 innings and giving up just two runs on four hits with four strikeouts without getting the decision.
- Starling (3-0) made his eighth appearance of the year out of the bullpen, earning the win after pitching 1.2 innings of one-hit baseball with two strikeouts.
- Knox provided almost all of the Columbus State offense on Saturday, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs, and four RBI.
- Chizek, Evans, and fellow senior Michael Cruz each had a hit in the win, while Yoxtheimer scored a run and registered his 26th stolen base of the year.
UP NEXT
The three-game series comes to a close tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. matchup between Columbus State and Lander.
