Columbus, Ga. — Albany State delivered a spirited performance on the road Tuesday afternoon, pushing Columbus State to extra innings before narrowly falling 7–6 in a contest defined by timely hitting, aggressive baserunning, and a resilient late-game surge.
The Golden Rams wasted no time setting the tone. In the opening inning,
Tyler Turner ignited the offense with a sharp double to left field, driving in
Aiden Payne to give Albany State an early 1–0 lead. The quick start showcased the Rams' intent to apply pressure from the first pitch.
Albany State regained momentum in the second inning with a clutch swing from
David Cooper. The right fielder laced a double to left, bringing home
Jaden Camp and
Mylon Uribe to restore the Rams' advantage at 3–2. Cooper finished the afternoon with two hits and two RBIs, pacing an offense that consistently created opportunities.
On the mound,
Calvin Baker turned in a steady start, working five innings while allowing just two earned runs. Baker mixed pitches effectively and limited damage, keeping Albany State within striking distance throughout his outing. The bullpen followed with a series of strong performances, highlighted by scoreless appearances from
Luke Hayes,
Chase Ledger,
Dereck Foster, and
Armando Nunez, who combined to maintain control during key middle innings.
The Golden Rams reclaimed the lead in the seventh when
Luke Addison delivered one of the game's biggest moments. The third baseman launched a solo home run to left field, energizing the Albany State dugout and putting the Rams back in front, 4–3. Addison's blast underscored Albany State's ability to respond in critical situations.
Trailing late, Albany State mounted an impressive rally in the ninth.
Isaiah Haygood crossed the plate on a defensive miscue to tie the game, and moments later,
Perry Usher came through with a decisive RBI double to left, scoring
Emory Stephens and giving the Rams a 6–3 cushion. The late-inning execution highlighted Albany State's composure and determination under pressure.
Stephens played a pivotal role in the rally, finishing with two hits, an RBI, and a stolen base. Turner also recorded a multi-hit performance, adding two hits and an RBI, while Camp contributed two hits and scored a run. Cooper, Payne, and Stephens each added stolen bases, reflecting Albany State's aggressive approach on the basepaths.
Up Next: Albany State returns home to open conference play with a weekend series against Kentucky State, scheduled for Feb. 13–14.
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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football, with all teams competing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.
