GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Columbus State baseball team made a statement on the opening day of play in the 2026 Peach Belt Conference Tournament on Friday, defeating No. 3 seed USC Aiken 12-7 at Dolney Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)
- Columbus State, seeded sixth in the bracket play format, scored a run in the first inning of action, followed by a three-run second inning to open an early 4-0 lead.
- Seniors Cayden Evans and Bryce Knox as well as junior Jax Yoxtheimer, each had an RBI to contribute to the early advantage.
- In the third, CSU tacked on two more runs with an RBI double from senior Michael Cruz, who later scored from third on a failed throw to second by the USCA catcher attempting to throw out a base runner.
- Yoxtheimer recorded his second RBI of the day, and Evans added two to his total with an RBI single in the fifth to put the Cougars ahead 10-0.
- Columbus State ace Sawyer Wilson was cruising through five innings of play, allowing just two hits to the Pacers before running into trouble in the sixth when a three-run home run cut the CSU lead to 10-3.
- Chizek and Evans each had RBI singles in the seventh inning to move the Cougars ahead 12-3, while USC Aiken added a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame to make the advantage 12-4 with two innings to play.
- The Pacers found life in the ninth inning, scoring three runs on three hits and a pair of free passes, but senior reliever Tucker Starling forced a groundout with a runner on second to move Columbus State forward in postseason play.
NOTES
- Wilson (6-3) got the win after giving up four runs on four hits with two strikeouts in six innings on the mound, while Starling earned his second save of the season with a three-inning appearance out of the bullpen.
- The CSU offense chased USC Aiken ace Joseph Rauscher early, giving him just his second loss of the season.
- Evans finished the game 2-for-5 with four RBI, while Chizek was 3-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored, a walk, and a stolen base.
- Sophomore Luke Miller was also 3-for-5 with 3-for-5 with a run and a stolen base of his own, as Cruz collected two doubles and two runs scored.
- Yoxtheimer had two RBI, and junior Corey Berry scored three runs and drew two walks in the win.
UP NEXT
Columbus State advances to the winner's bracket, where it will face the winning team of this afternoon's contest between No. 2 seed Lander and No. 7 seed Georgia College at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.
