Columbus State Wins 2008 PBC Regular Season Baseball Championship

Americus, GA - Columbus State's Danny Davidson threw a complete-game in the opener and got plenty of support with home runs by Brad Bowen and Brandon Masters as CSU defeated Georgia Southwestern 9-1. GSW took the nightcap in 14 innings, 8-7. Eighth-ranked CSU claimed its first Peach Belt Conference regular season title since 1996 as USC Aiken split with UNC Pembroke on Saturday. Game One Box Game Two Box

In the opener, CSU once again got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the opening frame. Jonnie Geiger walked, stole second, and came home on Rodney Rutherford's RBI single to right. C.J. Bressoud added an RBI double to left to plate Rutherford for a 2-0 Cougar lead.

CSU scored another run in the second inning as Brad Bowen walked and came home on a Casey Cook triple to the gap in left center.

CSU stretched the lead to four with a solo home run by Masters to left field in the fifth inning. Bowen put the game out-of-reach with his three-run homer in the sixth inning.

Geiger continued his torrid hitting with a two-run single in the eighth inning to provide the final margin.

Davidson (7-3) cruised to his seventh win of the season. He scattered seven hits, allowed an unearned run, walked one, and fanned 10. Cook went 3-for-4 to lead the Cougars.

James Wilson (4-4) got the loss for the Hurricanes. He went 5.2 innings, allowed eight hits, seven runs, walked three, and struck out three. Nick Rex and Francisco Gomez had two hits apiece to lead the Canes.

CSU led the nightcap 4-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but GSW scored four times on seven hits to tie the game at 4-4. Cody Adams, Zack Stanton, and Rex had RBI singles in the pivotal seventh inning for the Canes.

Cook had given CSU a 4-0 lead with a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning that scored Bressoud and Aaron Beasley, who singled to start the inning.

The two teams failed to score in both the eighth and ninth innings and extra innings were in order.

CSU scored a run in the 11th inning on a Bressoud RBI single, but GSW answered with a run off CSU reliever Phillip Robinson. After two quick strikeouts, Noble Coley singled to right center. Stanton stepped to the plate and ripped a triple to left center to tie the game once again at 5-5.

The game went to the 14th inning tied, and CSU broke the tie with RBI singles by Thomas Morrison and Bressoud for a 7-5 lead.

Stanton led off with a single to center. Rex laid down a sac-bunt and reached as Robinson's throw to first sailed wide and Stanton came all the way home and Rex reached third base. Jordan Mullis grounded out for the first out. Daniel Lynn was then hit-by-a-pitch to put runners at first and third. Byron Haynes hit a roller to Masters at second base that scored Rex to tie the game at 7-7. Patrick McCarthy then delivered a game-winning RBI single to right field to score Lynn and give the Canes a doubleheader split.

Geiger and Bressoud (three RBIs) paced a 15-hit CSU attack with three hits apiece. Rutherford, Morrison, and Cook added two hits each. Robinson got the loss with 3.2 innings of relief. Anthony Arrington started and pitched well, but couldn't get out of the seventh inning. He gave up 10 hits, four runs, walked none, and struck out five. Jason Weaver threw 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Tyler Smith got the win for GSW (17-34, 7-20 PBC) as hit retired Cole Martin on a fly-out in the 14th inning. Andrew Wiggum started and lasted seven innings. He allowed eight hits, four runs, walked none, and fanned six. Stanton led a 16-hit Cane attack with a 4-for-6 performance. Rex chipped in with three hits in six at bats.

CSU (39-15, 19-8 PBC) will head to the PBC tournament (May 8-11) as the no. 1 seed. USC Aiken serves as the host institution.