COLUMBUS, GA. – The Columbus State baseball team secured its fifth Peach Belt series victory with a 10-2 triumph over visiting USC Beaufort on Sunday afternoon at Burger King Stadium.
Columbus State moves its overall record to 20-10 with a 13-5 PBC mark, while USC Beaufort falls to 7-25 and now has a 2-19 record in the Peach Belt.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Another day, another game where Columbus State scored in the first inning of play as senior Jackson Chizek singled up the middle, stole second, and later scored on an RBI single by senior Bryce Knox for an early 1-0 lead.
- Columbus State's lead extended to a 5-0 advantage with four runs in the second inning as Chizek and Knox each recorded RBIs in the frame.
- The Cougars brought 10 men to the plate in the fourth inning and scored five runs on four hits to build a 10-0 lead.
- Chizek opened the scoring in the fourth frame with a sac fly, followed by an RBI single from fellow senior Cayden Evans. Junior Cole Eison had an RBI single of his own just two batters later before senior Michael Cruz scored two more runs with an RBI double down the left field line.
- USC Beaufort scored its first run of the game in the top of the fifth with a ground rule double to avoid the shutout.
- The Sand Sharks added a run in the seventh with another RBI double for the final run of the game from either side.
NOTES
- Redshirt-junior Gavin Blair (2-0) won his second consecutive start, giving up just two runs on six hits with a career-high seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
- Junior right-hander Danny Hershberger made his 10th appearance of the year on the mound, allowing just one hit in 1.2 innings of relief, while fellow junior Dexter Benoit pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his 10th game out of the bullpen.
- Knox was 3-for-5 in the game with a run and three RBI, while Cruz finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run of his own.
- Evans also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored as Chizek added two RBI to his season total.
- Junior Jax Yoxtheimer swiped second on a double steal in the fourth inning for his 30th stolen base of the season.
UP NEXT
Columbus State hits the road for a trip to Montgomery, Alabama, on Tuesday, March 31, when the Cougars play a non-conference game against Auburn University at Montgomery at 6:00 p.m.
