AUGUSTA, Ga. – The No. 18 Augusta Jaguars and No. 23 Columbus State Cougars combined for 36 hits on Friday night in the Peach Belt Conference series opener, but the Cougars outlasted the Jags for a 10-9 final at Jaguar Field.

The battle of nationally ranked opponents opened the series in the hunt for the No. 1 spot in the league. The Jags (27-12, 16-6 PBC) knocked 16 hits and Columbus State (30-11, 16-6 PBC) 20 on Friday night.

To open the game for Augusta, junior Clint Hardy lined a double down the left-field line in the first at bat for the Jags and senior Drew Taylor made it a 1-0 game with a sacrifice fly to right field for the opening run. The Cougars responded in their next at bat with two RBI hits to left field to steal a 2-0 advantage.

The lead changed five times in three innings as CSU put up two more in the third for a 4-3 score. Sophomore Jim Wagner lined a shot to centerfield to score seniors Hunter Boose and Connor Gilbert, before senior Nick Rau plated senior Cole Thompson for a 6-6 tie after three innings.

The Jags were led Wagner who was 3-5 with two RBI and a run, while C. Thompson went 2-3 with two RBI and three runs. Hardy had two hits and scored twice as the leadoff and Roberts went 2-5 with five assists at shortstop.

Senior Tristan Jones started his 11th game of the season for Augusta and was relieved by sophomore Casey Lenoch (4-1) after 2.1 innings pitched. Jones allowed eight hits for six runs and struck out one.

Lenoch tossed 3.2 innings and allowed five hits for two runs in the loss, before Jordan Kelly and David Hagelston made appearances for Augusta.

CSU took two back in the fifth on a solo home run and sac fly and put up another pair in the seventh to lead a 10-6 game.

Brandon Koehler logged 3.0 innings to allow seven hits for six runs before Luke Porter took over the hill for the Cougars and got the win in 4.0 innings of work.

In the bottom of the seventh Gilbert leadoff the inning with a bit by pitch and C. Thompson sent his fifth homer of the season over the left-field wall to get two runs back. After Hagelston held CSU scoreless in the eighth, Gilbert carded another RBI with a hit to left field that scored Hardy.

Down 10-9, the Jags couldn't score a run in the bottom of the ninth as Justin Evans came in to get his first save.

Grant Berry was 4-5 with four RBI and three runs, Blake Edwards went 3-5 with three RBI and three runs, and Jackson Oliver was 3-4 with two RBI.

The series with the Jags and Cougars continues on Saturday, April 16 for a 2:00 p.m. first pitch at Jaguar Field.

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