Columbus State Eliminates GCSU 6-4

May 11, 2007
Spartanburg, S.C. - The Columbus State Cougars turned four double plays and sent the top seed in the 2007 PBC Tournament home with a 6-4 win in the first elimination game on Friday.  The Cougars stranded nine GCSU baserunners to improve to 42-16 on the season and remain alive in tournament play.  GCSU is the first team eliminated for the tournament and go home with a 44-14 overall record.

“It’s good to come out with a win,” said Columbus State head coach Greg Appleton.  “It’s satisfying to beat the No. 1 team in our conference.  It wasn’t a pretty game, but was well fought.”

The Bobcats got on the board first in the second inning as Daniel Heflin led off with a double.  He later moved to third following infield singles from Rich Janofsky and Brian Shaughnessy to load the bases with no outs.  GCSU’s Trip Burt then ground into a 4-6-3 double play allowing Heflin to score, but that would be the only run GCSU would get as Chandler Snell struck out to end the inning.

Columbus State answered with a run in the bottom of the third on a wild play.  With Brad Bowen standing on third with one out, Drew Candlin lined a rocket into left center.  Bowen scored easily, but Candlin was thrown out at second as he tried to advance on the throw.  A second throw to get out Kurt McKee, who was on first, went wild, tempting McKee to try to reach home where he was thrown out by Snell.  Candlin argued the call at second and was ejected from the game.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fifth as GCSU starter Andy Reichart gave up a run without allowing a hit as he walked Bowen, then committed a two-base error as he tried to pick Bowen off of first but instead threw the ball into the outfield.  With Bowen on third, Reichart committed a balk allowing the run to score.

A balk was called again in the sixth as CSU put up their third run.  Brad Linton doubled to right with one out and was moved to third on a single by Rodney Rutherford.  GCSU pitcher Michael Newman, who replaced starter Andy Reichard to start the fifth, was called for a balk to score Linton.

The Cougars extended the lead to 5-1 later on in the same inning on a two-run triple by Trent Bianco to deep center field.  The ball bounced off the glove of Bobcat outfielder Brandon Anderson, who nearly made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch on the warning track.  Rutherford and Brian Gordon scored on the play.

GCSU climbed back into the game for good in the top of the seventh as Pete Paris hit a bases-loaded double to left center that scored all three runs.  That hit was the end for CSU starter Corey Noles, who loaded the bases for Paris after giving up a single and two walks all with two outs.

Korey Noles (8-3) picks up the win for CSU after going 6 2/3 innings and allowing four runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts.  Johnny Floyd got his second save of the season after pitching two innings and giving up two hits and a walk while striking out one.  Floyd had the bases loaded with one out in the ninth but was bailed out on a game-ending double play.  Andy Reichard (5-2) took the loss for GCSU after allowing two runs and striking out three.

Linton went 2-for-3 with a run scored for CSU while Rutherford was also 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.  Rutherford also made a pair of diving catches in the outfield, two of his four putouts. 

Janofsky and Shaughnessy were the only Bobcats with more than one hit, both going 2-for-4.

“Noles pitched really well and Columbus played very well defensively,” said GCSU head coach Chris Calciano.  “They turned four double plays.  You have to tip your hats to Columbus and their coaching staff.”

Columbus State advances to face an opponent to be determined at 3:00.

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