COLUMBUS, Ga. – The host Columbus State University baseball team used an home field advantage to take a 6-4 victory over Albany State in a  midweek game Wednesday night. The non-conference battle took place at Burger King Stadium at Ragsdale Field. 

Columbus State came away with the victory after Albany State made a late push in the ninth inning. Relief pitcher Devin Dudal came in looking for the save but an infield error and a Hit By Pitch put runners on first and second to start the inning for the Golden Rams. CSU would snag a strikeout but a single to follow would make it a 6-4 game with runners on first and second. A groundout advanced the runners putting the tying run on second base with two outs. But on the first pitch of the at bat Ford made a diving play at the comebacker in the hole, firing it to first for the final out. 

Albany State jumped out to the early 2-0 lead in the first inning before CSU got a chance to answer at the plate. But they would quickly chip away at the deficit collecting an RBI-single from in the bottom of the first. 

Columbus State jumped out in when they secured a home run to make it 3-2. CSU would get two more the following inning on uneven pitching by the Golden Rams after a wild pitch and passed ball put the Cougars in front 5-3. 

Columbus State proceeded to add another run on a double down the right field line plating Brooks for the sixth run of the game. 

That would be the last run though for either team until the top of the ninth as the pitching took over for both clubs. Despite the zeroes up on the scoreboard from the fifth inning until the ninth, a baserunner reached the base paths in every single half-inning for each squad the entire game.

The Golden Rams finished the contest with five pitching changes. Finishing things out on the mound for ASU was Tre Turner pitching two innings allowing only one hit, one walk and three strikeouts in the nine batters faces.

Travis Ray Jr. lead the Golden Rams in hits Wednesday night going 2-for-4 at the plate while Bryant finished 1-for-3 with one run and one RBI. Six of the nine batters for the Golden Rams picked up a hit.  

Albany State will next travel to Milledgeville, Georgia for a non-conference matchup against Georgia College on Tuesday, April 9^th. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m.