COLUMBUS, Ga. | Drew Webb and Dane Bullock each drove in three runs as Columbus State University took the Peach Belt Conference baseball series opener over Young Harris College 8-3 Thursday (April 18) evening at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field.
The Cougars improved to 26-14 overall and to 11-10 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions, who are ranked No. 7 in the latest NCBWAÂ Southeast regional rankings, fell to 28-15 and 14-9. The middle game of the series is at 6 p.m. Friday (April 19).
Columbus State took a 1-0 lead on a Robert Brooks home run to right center in the bottom of the first. The Mountain Lions tied the game at 1 in the top of the third on a RBI double by
Brett Hawkins down the left field. However, the Cougars scored three runs off YHC starter
Cameron Williams (5-4) in the bottom half of the inning to open up 4-1 lead on a run-scoring single from Brooks and a two-run single by Bulloch,
Young Harris fought back to get within a run at 4-3 on
T.J. Byrd's two-run homer to center field in the top of the fifth. It was Byrd's third long ball of 2019.
Brett Graczyk started the rally with a one-out single to right field.
Columbus State added a solo homer from Bullock in the fifth and a three-run homer by Webb an inning later to take an 8-3 lead.
Hawkins led the Mountain Lions, who had eight hits, with two hits.
Jalen Latta (3-5) earned the win for the Cougars.
