Rogers Leads Cougars to 16th Straight Win

Columbus, Ga. --  The CSU Cougars spotted visiting Auburn-Montgomery a pair of first-inning runs but roared back to post a 9-4 win.

 The victory is the Cougars' 16th in a row and 13th straight at home. The home win ties the record set by the 1986 Cougars, who also owned the mark for longest overall winning streak until Sunday.

 David Lane pitched a complete game to improve his record to 4-0. Lane got off to a shaky start, giving up hits to the first four Senators he faced and allowing two runs.

 Rogers bailed Lane out with one swing of the bat. In the home half of the first, Alex Montes and Eric Weiss walked, setting the stage for Rogers' dramatic swing. His blast over the wall in right center gave the Cougars a 3-2 lead. 

 Rogers and CSU were far from finished. CSU scored twice in the second, third and fourth innings. 

 Rogers hit one of the more unusual homers of the season to lead off the fourth. The low line drive barely cleared the wall in left.

 Catcher Noah Watkins also participated in the Cougars' home run derby, slugging his first of the year with Eric Skinner aboard in the third inning.

 The Senators sent a parade of pitchers to the hill. After starter Jeffrey Von Fossen, who was tagged with the loss, AUM sent five other hurlers to the mound.  The final pitcher for the Senators was third baseman Sam Judah.

 The Cougars open Peach Belt Conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Montevallo, with a single game on Friday at 4 and doubleheader Saturday at 1.