DAHLONEGA — Ninth-ranked Columbus State scored 15 runs off six homers to defeat the University of North Georgia baseball team, 15-3, in game one of the three-game series Friday night at Bob Stein Stadium.
 
The Cougars put their mark on the board first after scoring eight runs in the first three frames, and leaving the Nighthawks scoreless. A three-run bomb from Austin Pharr started the homerun derby for CSU. Drew Webb's two-run homer in the second followed by Frank Wager's three-run blast locked in the early 8-0 lead, forcing the Nighthawks to scratch for a run.
 
In the bottom of the third frame, Chase Sudduth's RBI ground out scored William Mapes, who reached on a walk, putting UNG on the board, 8-1. However, Columbus State continued their derby in the fourth with two more blasts to extend the lead to 11-1, followed by a grand slam from Grant Berry, the sixth CSU homer of the contest, to make the score 15-1.
 
The Nighthawks fought back with two homers of their own: a solo shot from Josh Profit in the seventh, and a solo shot from Conner Corbitt in the eighth, but that would be it for UNG.
 
NOTES
- Key hitters in this contest were Profit who went 1-for-4 with a homerun and a RBI; Corbitt who went 1-for-3 with a homerun and a RBI; and Bill LeRoy who went 2-for-4 with two singles.
 
- The winning pitcher was Kolton Ingram (10-3), and the losing pitcher was Cade Heil (6-7).
 
NEXT UP
UNG will take on CSU in game two of the series tomorrow. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at The Steiner.