AIKEN, S.C. – The Columbus State baseball team collected its 10th win of the season on Friday night with a 5-3 triumph over USC Aiken inside Roberto Hernandez Stadium.
CSU has now won nine straight games and sits at 5-2 in Peach Belt Conference play with the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- USC Aiken took advantage of a CSU fielding mishap in the bottom of the first to score the first run of the game, before Columbus State responded with two runs on three hits in the top of the second to go ahead 2-1.
- Senior Michael Cruz drove in a run with an RBI double, and junior Corey Berry also had an RBI in the inning.
- The Cougars added to their lead with a three-run third inning, scoring on an RBI double from junior Cole Eison, a sac fly from senior Jackson Chizek, and an RBI single from fellow senior Warrick Wilmot.
- Sophomore starter Sawyer Wilson (3-1) kept the Pacers offense at bay until the home team broke through for two runs in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to two runs.
- Senior Christian Harmon entered the game out of the bullpen in the sixth and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs and also left runners stranded in scoring position in the seventh and ninth innings of play.
NOTES
- Wilson registered his third win of the year, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts across five innings.
- Harmon picked up his first career save as a Cougar with a four-inning relief appearance. The right-hander gave up just four hits while striking out six batters in his sixth game of the season.
- At the plate, Cruz continued his recent hot streak with a 4-for-4 night, including two doubles, with an RBI and a run scored.
- Chizek, Evans, Wilmot, and sophomore Luke Miller each had two hits in the game, while Chizek, Eison, and Wilmot each recorded one RBI apiece.
UP NEXT
The Cougars and Pacers are back in action tomorrow afternoon for game two of the three game series at 2:00 p.m.
