COLUMBUS, Ga. – Columbus State University collected 19 hits and took advantage of five errors as the Cougars took the opening game of their three-game Peach Belt Conference baseball series with a 18-3 victory over Young Harris College Friday (Feb. 20) afternoon at Ragsdale Field.

The Cougars improved to 8-4 overall and to 1-3 in the league while the Mountain Lions slipped to 5-6 and 2-2. The teams will wrap up their series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday (Feb. 21).

Mike McClellan led Columbus State with three hits and drove in five runs, including a three-run homer in the seventh.

Young Harris got its three runs in the third inning on a homer to left field by Zach Wall, who collected three of the 11 hits by the Mountain Lions. Nick Sexton and Troy Kizer each accounted for two hits apiece.

Mike McGinnity (2-0) struck out six over five innings for the win, while Justin Cooper (2-2) took the loss for the Mountain Lions.