Columbus State Drowns Pirates 16-6; Advances in PBC Tournament

Jonnie Geiger tied single-game records for hits and runs scored while Rodney Rutherford tied the PBC single-season home run record as Columbus State bashed Armstrong Atlantic State 16-6 in the opening game of the PBC Tournament in Aiken, S.C. Geiger went 5-for-5 on the day with four runs scored, both marks tying PBC Tournament single-game records. CSU advances in the tournament to face Francis Marion on Friday at 3 p.m.

The Cougars got things started in the first with three runs with RBI singles from Thomas Morrison, Shaun Spearman and Brad Bowen as the Cougars sent all nine players to the plate against AASU starter Cody Walden (L, 7-6). CSU added another in the second on an RBI by Rutherford.

CSU broke the game open in the fourth with three more runs as Brandon Masters launched a three-run home run to left field, one of four CSU home runs on the day. That was more than enough offense for CSU starter Korey Noles (W, 12-0) who did not have his best outing as he gave up five earned runs on 12 hits and five walks with five strikeouts.

After a Spearman home run in the bottom of the fifth made the score 9-1 Columbus State, Armstrong Atlantic made things interesting in the top of the seventh with four runs scored. The rally began with back-to-back walks and a single from Kenny Cail to load the bases. Noles then induced a double play that still scored a run. Blake Sills, making only his third appearance of the season, then knocked a two-run home run to left center, only the fifth home run Noles had allowed this season. The sixth came in the next at-bat as Josh Heath made it back-to-back homers with a single shot to left.

Columbus State answered with four runs in the bottom of the seventh as Rutherford drove in two with a double and Cole Martin launched a two-run home run. With Martin’s blast, every starter in the CSU lineup finished the game with at least one hit.

Rutherford tied the PBC home run record in the eighth with a two-run shot to right center. The senior third-baseman joins Kennesaw State’s Jason Jones as the only two PBC players to hit 26 home runs in a season. Rutherford finished the game 3-for-6 with three runs scored and five RBIs.

Geiger finished 5-for-5, becoming the fourth player to collect five hits in a PBC Tournament game, and four runs scored with an RBI. Masters was 4-for-6 with three runs and three RBIs while Morrison was 4-for-6 with a run and an RBI. Spearman, Bowen and Casey Cook each had multiple hits for the Cougars.

Sills finished 3-for-5 for AASU with his two-run homer. Josh Heath was 2-for-2 with his solo homer while Josh Wilson, Joey Davis, Cail and Nick Pyron also had two hits.

Columbus State will face Francis Marion on Friday at 3:00 while Armstrong Atlantic State will face either USC Aiken or GCSU on Friday at either 11 am or 7 p.m.

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