Blaine Miller was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs driven in for Columbus State.
COLUMBUS, Ga. -- No. 10 Columbus State scored six early runs propelling the Cougars to their fifth consecutive win as CSU defeated Albany State 8-3 on Wednesday. The game took place at Ragsdale Field.
The Cougars took charge of the game in the first scoring four runs off of ASU starter Clifford Peterson. With one out, Jackson Oliver and Jimmy Obermark strung together back-to-back singles for the first two hits of the game. Dustin Averett followed with a sharp single up the middle that scored Oliver from second.
With Obermark at third, Blake Edwards cashed in on the RBI chance lifting a flyball to the outfield for a sacrifice fly making it 2-0. To cap off scoring in the opening frame, Mike McClellan and Blaine Miller had back-to-back run-scoring doubles.
In the second, Columbus State (32-11) scored a run without the benefit of a hit as Matt Nettles drew a walk to begin the frame. After stealing second and moving to third on a throwing error, Nettles scored on an Oliver sacrifice fly increasing CSU's lead to 5-0.
Albany State (28-16) left a runner on third in the top of the third before the Cougars scored another run in their half of the frame. Blake Edwards began the rally with a one-out walk while McClellan followed with a sharp single through the left side of the infield.
After a flyout advanced Edwards to third, the Cougars pulled off a double steal upping the lead to 6-0.
In the fifth, McClellan made it a 7-0 game with one swing of the bat as he launched his eighth home run over the left field wall.
Albany State made noise in the sixth inning scoring three runs. With Shawn Thomas on the mound, Ryan Latner reached base thanks to a fielding error to begin the inning. Latner would proceed to steal second and then moved to third on a groundout. Latner would eventually score on a Jacob Campbell single to right field.
Following another single and a wild pitch, the Golden Rams scored another run on a RBI groundout off the bat of Sable Gillard. ASU made things even more interesting after a run-scoring single by Allen Hardy.
Albany State continued its rally putting runners on first and third with two outs in the seventh. However, Jake Ezell struck out Reise McDaniel swinging to end the threat.
Miller extended Columbus State's lead in the bottom of the eighth keeping a line drive home run fair down the left field line upping the lead back to 8-3.
Taylor Cato pitched a perfect ninth capping off the CSU victory.
Jackson Oliver, Mike McClellan and Blaine Miller had outstanding days at the plate for the Cougars. Oliver was a perfect 3-for-3 with a RBI and two stolen bases. McClellan was a triple shy of the cycle going 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBI while Blaine Miller was 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs driven in.
On the mound, Ryan Pistey got the start tossing three innings of one-hit ball. Sean Muller (4-1) got the win throwing two innings allowing just one hit.
For Albany State, Robert Latner was 2-for-4 while Jacob Campbell, Allen Hardy and Sable Gillard picked up RBIs for the Golden Rams.
Clifford Peterson took the loss allowing five runs (four earned) during two innings.
