YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Caleb Kutsche threw a complete-game five hitter as Columbus State University defeated Young Harris College 7-1 in a Peach Belt Conference baseball game Friday (Feb. 19) afternoon at Zell B. Miller Field.
 
The Cougars improved to 6-2 overall and to 1-0 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions to 4-4 and 0-1. The teams will conclude the three-game series with a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday (Feb. 20),
 
Kutsche (1-0) scattered five hits and struck out seven while walking no one as he threw 63 strikes out of the 82 pitches he tossed. Kutsche retired the side in order five times.
 
The Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the first on two-run, two-out single by Christian Miller off YHC starter Donald Frew (0-2).
 
The Mountain Lions got a run back in the third. Troy Kizer was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chris McGinnis. Kizer advanced 90 feet on Casey Selfe's fly to right and later scored on a Nick Sexton's RBI single up the middle.
 
CSU, which score five runs with two outs, added a run in the fifth on Jackson Oliver's single. The Cougars got RBI singles from Hunter Bowling and Tyler Fichter in the seventh to take a 5-1 lead. Columbus State added a solo home run from Matt Nettles – his third of the year – and a run-scoring double from Grant Berry an inning later.
 
Zach Wall had three hits, including a double down the left field line in the seventh, for the Mountain Lions.
 
Blake Edwards led the 15-hit attack for Columbus State with three hits, while Nettles, Bowling and Fichter had two apiece.