Columbia, Mo. – This afternoon the Columbia College baseball team was back in action when they hosted Park (Mo.) University in an AMC matchup. Although scheduled as a doubleheader, the Cougars played just one game against the Pirates picking up the 5-4 walk-off win in the bottom of the ninth to improve to 16-7 on the season and 10-0 in conference play.

In the first few innings of the game, neither side was able to get anything going as both starting pitchers were cruising early. The Pirates were finally able to take advantage of a few miscues by Columbia's defense in the top of the third inning and went off for three runs to take a 3-0 lead in the ball game. However, the Cougars bounced back quickly and answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning and then scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take a 4-3 lead over the Pirates.

Columbia's 4-3 lead over Park stood until the top of the ninth inning when the Pirates were able to load up the bases before bringing a runner across the plate to tie the game at four heading into the bottom of the ninth. Despite giving up a late tying run to the Pirates, Columbia did not put their heads down and battled back in the bottom half of the inning. They were able to load the bases for Kenny Piper who smacked a one out base hit up the middle scoring Ethan Howser from third and giving the Cougars their eighth straight win.

Zach Maskill was the starting pitcher for Columbia in this one allowing just five hits and two earned runs in six innings of work. Jeremy Rettig picked up the win for the Cougars improving to 4-1 on the season after going three innings and allowing just two hits. Offensively, Ethan Howser went 2-4 with three runs scored and Kenny Piper went 2-5 with two RBI's to round out the top performers for Columbia.

The Cougars are back in action Friday, March 17^th when they take on Morthland (Ill.) College in a non-conference matchup. The game, which was originally scheduled for a 3 p.m. start, will start at 6 p.m. at Atkins Park.