Columbus State evens series against North Georgia

DAHLONEGA, Ga. -- Columbus State scored four runs in the sixth inning and three more in eighth and held on to beat No. 7 North Georgia 8-6 on Saturday at Bob Stein Stadium.

The win evened the series. Game 3 will be at 1 p.m. Sunday.

"It was good to see the guys respond after a tough loss last night," CSU coach Greg Appleton said. "Now we have the opportunity to win the series tomorrow and make this a good weekend."

CSU trailed 2-1 heading into the sixth. Mike McClellan doubled in the tying run. Lake Hart tripled in two and then scored on Tyler Fichter's single.

The 28th-ranked Cougars tried to put the game away with the three in eighth taking an 8-2 lead. McClellan hit a solo homer, and Ryan Ihle hit a 2-run shot.

But Trevor Sams hit a 3-run homer as part of a four-run eighth as the Nighthawks closed to within 8-6.

Kolton Ingram gave up one hit in the ninth and earned the save.

Albert Harless (2-0) picked up the victory for the Cougars, allowing four runs over 7 1-3 innings. The right-hander struck out a season-high eight.

This story was originally published February 27, 2016 at 6:11 PM with the headline "Columbus State evens series against North Georgia ."