The Georgia Southwestern baseball team scored in every odd-numbered inning en route to a 6-4 victory over seventh-ranked Columbus State on Friday evening at Hurricane Stadium. The ‘Canes punched five doubles and stole six bases in the contest – both single-game season highs. GSW starting pitcher Ryan Lackey earned the complete-game win.
The Cougars four runs came off of a pair of two-run home runs. The first shot was delivered in the first inning by Jason Rogers, his 22nd round-tripper of the spring. The second came with two outs in the ninth by Mitch Rider. Sandwiched between the two-run homers was seven scoreless innings where CSU managed only four hits.
After falling behind 2-0 early, GSW pushed across its first run in the opening frame when Chris Lingham scored from third on a Zack Stanton groundout.
Stanton drove in another run in the third when he beat out a ground ball to first base, bringing home Bud Long – who started the inning with a double.
The good fortune in odd-numbered innings continued in the fifth when Stanton struck again. This time it was a double into the right field corner that brought around Lingham to score.
With one out in the seventh, Lingham, Stanton and Trent Dooley accounted for three-consecutive doubles and two more runs to put the ‘Canes ahead, 5-2.
Southwestern added an insurance run in the eighth when Jared Allen scored on a Lingham groundout.
Stanton finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs - extending his hitting streak to 18 games - to lead Southwestern at the plate.
GSW starter Ryan Lackey (3-3) allowed four earned runs and seven hits in his first complete game of the spring to get the win. He walked three and struck out seven.
Columbus State starter Iain Sebastian picked up the loss as he allowed seven hits and four earned runs, pitching until one out in the seventh. He walked five and fanned seven. Blake Sills finished up for CSU, allowing one earned run.
Rider and Scoop Pharr collected two hits apiece to lead Columbus State (32-9, 9-7 PBC) hitters.
Southwestern (23-14, 11-8 PBC) and CSU are back on the diamond at Hurricane Stadium tomorrow (4/17) for a 2 p.m. doubleheader. Senior Day ceremonies will take place before the first game, at approximately 1:45 p.m. There are 10 seniors on the Hurricanes’ roster.
