Cougars End Season in Opening Round Championship

Williamsburg, Kentucky – The Columbia College baseball team ended their season today with a loss to the #6 Patriots of University of the Cumberlands in the championship game of the NAIA Opening Round. 

Cumberlands struck first after registering a two-run home run in the first to lead 2-0. In the third, a sac fly from Braden DeSonia scored Duffin Makings, cutting the lead to 1-2. A solo home run from Brayden McGinnis brought the score level, 2-2. 

Another home run from the Patriots put them back ahead, 3-2, but it was short lived as the Cougars jumped ahead 5-3 after a home run from Tom McKenna, a home run from Indy Stanley, and a triple from Devyn Lopez. 

In the seventh, the Patriots took the lead back after a three-run home run put them in the lead, 6-5. They would score again twice in the eighth to lead 8-5. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Duffin Makings hit a solo home run to cut the deficit to 6-8, but Cumberlands recorded the next two outs to end the game. 

Braden DeSonia, Indy Stanley, Brayden McGinnis, Devyn Lopez, Duffin Makings, and Tom McKenna all had one RBI each. Pierce Hartmann got the start on the mound and collected nine strike outs through 7.0 IP. 

The Cougars end their season with the most wins in program history as they registered 40-wins with only 15 losses. They finished second in the AMC regular season before claiming the AMC Tournament Championship title after beating #8 Missouri Baptist University twice.