By WRBL Staff
CSU Sports Information
Columbus, GA - It was a record breaking evening for Columbus State senior Rodney Rutherford on Wednesday evening. The Shaw product, hit two home runs to give him the school record for most home runs in a season with 24 as CSU destroyed West Georgia 22-11 at Ragsdale Field. The Cougars tied a school record with seven home runs in the game and pounded out 21 hits in a game called due to the 10-run mercy rule. CSU Sports Information
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Stumble It!The two teams scored in each of the first three innings to chase both starting pitchers. CSU's Brandon Masters hit a solo homer in the third inning off UWG reliever John Lees to tie the score at 10-10.
Rutherford broke the school record with a solo homer leading off the CSU second inning, a high blast to deep left center.
The Wolves took the lead in the fourth on a Carson Tate RBI single to right for an 11-10 lead.
CSU didn't the score in the fourth inning, but got the lead back with four runs in the fifth inning off UWG reliever Justin Carpenter. Jonnie Geiger singled and Masters walked to start the frame. Rutherford then drilled his second homer of the game, a line drive over the left field wall, to give CSU a 13-11 lead. Shaun Spearman added an RBI double to plate Cole Martin, who earlier singled, and CSU held a 14-11 lead.
The sixth inning was like watching nintendo baseball. Geiger and Masters went back-to-back to the start the inning. Spearman added a
fielder's choice RBI and Casey Cook had an RBI single in the frame. Geiger stepped to the plate again and launched another homer, a three-
run shot, to give CSU a huge 22-11 lead. CSU (37-14) scored eight runs and tallied six hits in the unreal sixth inning.
Phillip Robinson, in relief of starter James Thompson, got UWG out in the seventh inning for the final margin.
Robinson (5-1) threw 4.1 innings out of the pen, gave up five hits, one run, walked two, and fanned five. Thompson didn't make it out of the third inning as he struggled, giving up nine hits and 10 runs (seven earned).
Geiger, Masters, and Rutherford each had two homers apiece. C.J. Bressoud added a three-run shot and Spearman went 4-for-5 with four
RBIs. Geiger went 4-for-5 with five RBIs and added to his school record with another stolen base. CSU pounded out 21 hits as a team.
Carpenter (2-3) got the loss for the Wolves in relief. He lasted one inning, gave up seven hits, eight runs, and issued three walks. Travis McCall started the game and didn't make it out of the second inning. He allowed seven hits, nine runs, walked three, and fanned one.
CSU closes out the regular season with a huge Peach Belt Conference three-game set at Georgia Southwestern this weekend. CSU and USC Aiken are tied atop the PBC with a 17-7 mark in league play. USCA hosts UNC Pembroke in a three-game series this weekend. CSU and GSW play a single game on Friday at 5 PM and then wrap up the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 PM from Americus, GA.
