February 19, 2006

Boxscore

LAURINBURG, NC—No. 25 nationally ranked Columbus State University took advantage of back-to-back errors in the sixth inning to score their only runs and escape with a 2-1 victory over host St. Andrews Presbyterian College on Sunday at Clark Field.

The Cougars improved to 9-3 overall while the Knights fell to 4-8.

Senior Brad Smith (Riegelwood, NC) pitched a three-hit, seven-strikeout, complete game gem for St. Andrews but the two unearned runs cost him the victory.

The Knights out hit CSU 9-3 but were unsuccessful during scoring opportunities, stranding 11 base runners.

With one out, senior Brad Shea (Conyers, GA) started the sixth-inning rally with a single to left. Smith fanned the next Cougar before junior Kurt McKee (Lilburn, GA) reached on an error by the Knights centerfielder, who misplayed the line drive that went off his glove. Junior Drew Candlin (Newman, GA) followed with a ground ball to short that was booted, allowing Shea to score for the first run.

St. Andrews looked to be out of the inning on a junior Billy Howard (Lilburn, GA) ground ball up the middle. However, after being fielded by the shortstop the Knights tried for the force out at second instead of going to first. Candlin was called safe at second on the fielder’s choice and McKee crossed home for the second run.

SAPC took advantage of a Columbus State error to cut the lead in half with their only run in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Andrew Hoffner (Ellicott City, MD) hit the only extra-base of the game with a double to right field. After advancing to third on a fielder’s choice, Hoffner scored on a freshman Ivan Rodriguez (New York, NY) single to right.

Junior starter Jason Good (Columbus, GA) scattered eight hits and allowed one run (unearned) over six innings of work. Junior Paul Able (Hoboken, GA) earned his third save of the season with two scoreless innings. Good (2-0) and Able both had three strikeouts.

Hoffner and sophomore Michael Eastwood (Grantsboro, NC) had two hits apiece for the Knights while freshman Brian Gordon (Macon, GA) had two of the Cougars three hits.

The Knights host Benedict for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Columbus State entertains non-conference Delta State on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

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