Columbia brings the power as Cougars take a pair from UHSP

COLUMBIA, MO – The Cougars extended their winning streak to seven in a row as they swept a day one doubleheader from UHSP as the two opened their four-game weekend conference series. A 7-run first in game one for the Cougars against UHSP ace Barrett Lohman put the Eutectics in a huge hole. But they battled and in the fifth brought the tying run to the plate. They would leave the bases loaded in that inning and drop the game 9-6. An eight-run fifth in game two turned the nightcap into a rout as Columbia won 16-2.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS:

COLUMBIA 9, UHSP 6

• Brayden McGinnis provided the early fuel to the Columbia first as he drilled a 3-run homerun to right. McGinnis went 4-for-4 in the game driving in three and scoring twice.
• The Cougars sent 12 batters to the plate in the first and Jaden James capped the inning with a 3-run triple to right-center.
• Ethan Harrell (double) and Matthew McDonald (triple) had RBI hits in the UHSP second.
• Holden Campbell walked with the bases loaded in the fifth to drive in a run and Jordan Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-4. Harrell would walk to reload the bases with two outs, but McDonald flew out to left.
• Two more in the sixth made it a three-run game as Malcom Merriwether drilled an RBI double to center. After a Gonzalez fly out, Brandon Gibbs singled to left to drive in Merriwether. Campbell flied out to left to end the frame.
• It was a rare rough outing for UHSP starter, Barrett Lohman. He went the distance allowing nine runs on 15 hits, walking one and fanning six.
• Layne Rutherford (3-2) got the win for Columbia. He lasted 4.2 innings, yielding four hits, three walks and striking out three.
• The Cougars extended their winning streak to six with the win.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS:

COLUMBIA 16, UHSP 2

• Tyler Renn put Columbia ahead in the first with a two-run homer. Jack Matousek's RBI double down the right-field line capped a three-run, three-hit frame.
• UHSP got within one in the second as Jordan Gonzalez delivered a sac fly and Brandon Gibbs drove in a run with a single to right-center.
• Renn hit his second homerun of the game in the second to cap a three-run, five-hit inning.
• Zac Fruend added a solo homerun in the third for CC as the Cougars added singleton runs in the third and fourth to take an 8-2 lead.
• Columbia blew it open with an 8-run fifth to end all doubt. Bailey Quint hit a three-run homer and Tyler Davis doubled later in the inning with the bases loaded and drove in three more.
• Kyle Smith took the loss for UHSP. He got the start and went four frames. He saw eight runs score against him with seven earned. He surrendered nine hits, walked and struck out one.
• Logan Stribling got roughed up in two-thirds of an inning as his line was: 8R, 7ER, 3H, 4BB. Brayden Stevens finished it up for UHSP going a scoreless and hitless 1.1IP.

NEXT UP:

On Saturday afternoon, the Eutectics (13-21, 8-14 AMC) and Cougars (24-5, 18-4 AMC) continue their four-game series. The first pitch of game one is slated for 1:00p. UHSP is then idle next week until Saturday, April 5 when William Woods comes to St. Louis for an AMC weekend series.