COLUMBUS, GA. – A late-game rally by the visiting Argos of No. 12 University of West Florida stalled an upset bid by the Columbus State University baseball team on Tuesday night. CSU fell by a score of 5-3 at Burger King Stadium in the first game of a two-game series.
Columbus State is now 23-12 overall, while West Florida improves to 28-9 on the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Columbus State scored first in the opening inning of play on a solo home run from senior Cayden Evans. CSU has outscored opponents 36-10 in the first inning during the 2026 season.
- Senior Michael Cruz led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to left field and later scored on an error by the UWF third basemen to build a 2-0 lead for CSU.
- CSU's redshirt-junior starter Nathan Webb held the potent UWF offense to just two hits through five innings of play before the Argos broke through for three runs on three hits, including a two-run home run, in the sixth inning.
- The Cougars evened the score at 3-3 in the home half of the inning when sophomore Luke Miller scored from third on a wild pitch.
- After leaving two runners stranded in the seventh inning, West Florida rallied with two out in the eighth, scoring twice on an RBI double to go ahead 5-3 with an inning left to play.
- Columbus State put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but could not scratch the tying runs across home plate.
NOTES
- Webb didn't factor in the decision after going six innings on the mound, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts,
- Junior right-hander Dexter Benoit turned in a perfect relief appearance, striking out one in 1.1 innings out of the bullpen.
- Evans led the offense with a 3-for-4, recording his team-leading fourth home run of the year to go along with a run scored, one RBI, and two walks.
- Cruz was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while junior Corey Berry was a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks, reaching base in all four plate appearances.
UP NEXT
The Cougars and Argos conclude the midweek series tomorrow with a single game at 2:00 p.m.
