College baseball roundup: Columbus State drops series opener to Lander

The first game of a three-game series between the top two teams in the Peach Belt Conference standings went to No. 25 Lander on Friday night at Burger King Stadium.

The Bearcats’ Colby Lusignan hit a home run in the top of the ninth for a 9-8 victory over No. 7 Columbus State.

The Cougars (20-6, 8-2) tied the game at 8-8 in the eighth as two runs scored on a throwing error.

Matt Nettles, Ryan Ihle and Tyler Fichter had two hits apiece for the Cougars.

CSU starter Caleb Kutsche gave up seven runs in 4 2/3 innings. Reliever Kolton Ingram (2-1) took the loss.

Lander has won 14 straight ti improve to 22-5 overall and 13-3 in the PBC.

Georgia 5, Kentucky 2

Georgia built a 5-0 lead and went to beat Kentucky in the SEC opener on Friday night at Foley Field in Athens, Ga.

Daniel Nichols led the way, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Robert Tyler (2-1) picked up the win, going five innings and allowing two runs on two hits and seven walks. he struck out six.

Georgia Tech 14, Virginia Tech 4

Wade Bailey and Connor Justus combined for six hits, including two home runs, as Georgia Tech ripped Virginia Tech 14-4 at Russ Chandler Stadium in Atlanta on Friday.

Tristan English also had a three-run double.

The Jackets (13-4, 1-3 ACC) ended a four-game losing streak.

Starting pitcher Brandon Gold (2-1) struck out a career-high nine in seven innings to earn the win.

Texas A&M at Auburn, ppd.

Rain forced a postponement of Friday night’s Texas A&M at Auburn game.

The teams will play a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday.

LSU at Alabama, ppd.

Rain forced a postponement of Friday night’s LSU at Alabama game.

The teams will play a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 7:55 AM with the headline "College baseball roundup: Columbus State drops series opener to Lander."