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No. 9 Cougars Stay Perfect, Edge Lions 5-3
| Final - Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Leo (4-2) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Columbus St. (5-0) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | X | 5 | 6 | 1 |
| @ Columbus, GA | Ragsdale Field | ||||||||||
| Pitching |
|---|
| Win: Brodie Leibrandt (2-0) - Columbus St. |
| Loss: Charles Neely (1-1) - Saint Leo |
| Saint Leo Batting |
|---|
| 2B: Brendan Collins; Daniel Torres |
| 3B: none |
| HR: none |
| Columbus St. Batting |
|---|
| 2B: none |
| 3B: none |
| HR: none |
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Columbus – Brodie Leibrandt threw a complete game limiting Saint Leo to just three runs as the ninth ranked Columbus Sate University baseball team defeated the Lions 5-3 in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader. The game was played at Ragsdale Field.
The Lions struck first in the opening frame putting CSU behind. Brendan Collins led the game off with a four-pitch walk and moved to third after Chris Newcomb singled through the right side of the infield.
After Leibrandt struck out a batter and picked off Newcomb, the Cougars looked like they were going to get out of the jam. However, on the 1-0 pitch, Collins stole home putting up a run on the board for the visitors.
The Cougars were not down for long putting up a three spot in the bottom half of the inning. J.D. Pullen singled, Navarro Hall walked and Ryan Lewis had a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. After Brett Teschner struck out, Cameron Scott drove in Pullen with a fielder's choice to tie the game.
Logan Dollar hit a routine fly ball but the strong wind played tricks with it and gave leftfielder Collins some trouble as he dropped the ball allowing Hall and Lewis to score giving CSU a 3-1 lead.
Saint Leo put a run on the board in the second and third innings to tie the game at three.
With two outs in the second, Nyron Kirchner hit a little chopper to third base that Cameron Griffin corralled but threw it over first baseman Logan Dollar's head that allowed Kirchner to advance to second. In the next at-bat, Daniel Torres singled up the middle driving in Kirchner.
Collins began the third with a double down the leftfield line and he advanced to third on a groundout. Zach Miller drove in the tying run with a groundout to Kenny Miller.
The Cougars scored the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning as Pullen led the inning off with a single to the shortstop, who then threw the ball past the first baseman allowing the junior to go to second. With one out, Lewis drove in the winning run past a drawn in infield putting CSU on top 4-3.
After a Teschner single moved Lewis to second, the preseason All-American swiped third base setting up a sacrifice fly by Cameron Scott that added an insurance run.
Leibrandt (2-0) saved his best two innings for last as he retired the Lions in order in the sixth and seventh.
For the game, the southpaw tossed seven innings allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. He struck out two batters while issuing two free passes. The junior allowed just one base runner in the final three innings.
Pullen and Lewis both went 2-for-3 for Columbus State. Pullen scored two runs while Lewis drove in a run. Despite going hitless, Cameron Scott picked up two RBis increasing his season total to 18.
Charles Neely (1-1) recorded the loss going 4.1 innings allowing five runs (three earned).
Columbus State will look to complete the three-game sweep tomorrow afternoon at Ragsdale Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
