COLUMBUS, GA. – The Columbus State baseball team got back to its winning ways on Saturday with a 5-2 triumph over the Sand Sharks of USC Beaufort in Peach Belt Conference play from Burger King Stadium.
Columbus State moves its overall record to 19-10 with a 12-5 PBC mark, while USC Beaufort falls to 7-24 and now has a 2-18 record in the Peach Belt.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Columbus State was on the board early with two runs in the opening inning of play, using back-to-back RBI singles from junior Cole Eison and senior Michael Cruz to build a 2-0 lead.
- The CSU lead stretched to 3-0 in the third with an RBI double to center off the bat of senior Bryce Knox.
- Senior right-hander Connor Folds had another dominant performance in his ninth start of the season, shutting the USCB offense down across the first six innings of play and allowing just four hits with four strikeouts and a walk.
- However, the Sand Sharks led off the seventh inning with consecutive singles before plating two runs and cutting the CSU lead just one run.
- Columbus State responded with two runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh, as senior Cayden Evans laced an RBI double to right field, scoring two and putting the Cougars ahead 5-2.
- Senior right-hander Tucker Starling struck out three while allowing just two hits over the final three innings out of the bullpen to preserve the win.
NOTES
- Folds (4-3) earned the win after his strong showing on the mound, while Starling earned his first save of the year and second of his Columbus State career.
- Evans led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance, hitting a double to go along with two runs scored and two RBI.
- Junior Jax Yoxtheimer was 2-for-4 from his leadoff spot, hitting two doubles of his own while scoring a run.
- Cruz, Eison, and Knox each recorded an RBI for Columbus State in the victory.
UP NEXT
Columbus State and USC Beaufort square off tomorrow in the rubber match of the three-game series at 1:00 p.m. from Ragsdale Field.
