Cougars Knock Off #12 Mobile in NAIA Opening Round

Williamsburg, Kentucky – The Columbia College baseball team opened play today in the NAIA Opening Round of the World Series with a matchup against the #12-ranked Rams of the University of Mobile (AL). The #3-seed in the Williamsburg bracket, the Cougars are matched up with the #1-seed Cumberlands, #2-seed Mobile, and #4-seed Reinhardt. 

Mobile scored in the bottom of the first to take the early lead, but a home run from Tyler Renn followed by an RBI from Duffin Makings put the Cougars ahead, 2-1. The Rams used a three-run home run in the fourth to go ahead 2-5, extending their lead to 2-6 over the Cougars with another run scored in the fifth. 

In the top of the seventh, Tyler Renn hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 4-6. Devyn Lopez doubled for an RBI to put the Cougars within one, 5-6. One more run for the Rams in the seventh gave them the 5-7 lead over CC. 

Trailing in the eighth, Cayden Nicoletto singled up the middle for an RBI. Then, a double from Tyler Renn had three Cougars score, putting the Cougars up 9-7. The Cougars would score one more in the eighth after Brayden McGinnis singled to score Wyatt Towe. 

Up 10-7 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Jake Deakins had a strike out for the first out. The Cougars used a double-play from Deakins to Lopez to McGinnis to pick up the second and third outs, ending the game. 

Tyler Renn led the team with six RBI, one double, and two home runs. Cayden Nicoletto, Brayden McGinnis, Devyn Lopez, and Duffin Makings all had one RBI each. The Cougars managed 16 team hits as Indy Stanley, Devyn Lopez, Riley Poulton, Duffin Makings, and Tom McKenna all had doubles. 

Bryce Taylor got the start and finished with four strike outs through 5.0 IP. Pierce Hartmann earned the win after pitching through 3.0 innings with three strike outs and one one earned run. Jake Deakins was credited with the save as he pitched the last inning and picked up one strike out. 

The Cougars advance to the winners bracket in Kentucky and will play the winner of #1 Cumberlands and #4 Reinhardt tomorrow at 5:00 PM (CST).