Topeka, Kansas – This afternoon the Columbia College men's baseball team was back in action when they traveled to Topeka, Kansas, to play against Northwestern (Iowa) College. The Cougars split the doubleheader as the Cougars took game one 9-8 and the Red Raiders won 6-4 in the second game. The Cougars are now 3-3 on the season.
In the first game against the Red Raiders, the Cougars got off to a great start in the first inning by scoring five runs, including a 3-run homerun by
Dalton Bealmer. Northwestern College was quick to respond with two runs of their own in the same inning.
Kenny Piper was up to bat to start the third inning and homered, followed by two more runs to extend the Cougars lead 8-2. The Red Raiders were eager to get back in the game and responded with 4 runs in the third to make it an 8-6 game in the Cougars favor. Columbia College was able to add one more run in the seventh, while stopping Northwestern at just two runs to win the game 9-8.
Chris Wall started on the mound for the Cougars as he struck out one batter in three innings of play.
Josiah Imhoff (1-0) got the win for the Cougars as he came in to relieve Wall in the fourth and allowed just two hits and struck out two batters in three innings of work.
Conner Darnell was awarded a save as he came in for Imhoff in the final inning and did not allow a hit while striking out a batter. Offensively, the Cougars were led by
Dalton Bealmer who had two hits with four RBI and a run scored, and
Ethan Howser who went 2-4 with one RBI and three runs scored.
Chase Urhahn started game two with a homerun to put the Cougars on the board. The Red Raiders came back in the second inning to take the lead after they scored two runs. Columbia College was able to rally up another run in the third, but Northwestern responded with four runs, including a 2-run homerun to keep the lead 6-2. The Cougars were able to add another run in the fourth and seventh to cut the lead 6-4, but the Red Raiders picked up the final outs of the game to hand the Cougars the loss.
Jacob Ford (1-0) was the starting pitcher for the Cougars as he struck out three batters in three innings of play.
Lane Threlkeld (0-1) relieved Ford in the fourth inning and allowed just one hit while striking out five batters in three innings of work. Offensively,
Bradley Prebay led the way for Columbia as he went 3-3 with one RBI and scored two runs,
Blade McKee had two hits and two RBI, while
Chase Urhahn had one hit with one RBI and one run scored to round up the top performers for the Cougars.
The baseball team is back in action tomorrow, February 14
th as they take on the Red Raiders in another doubleheader with the first game beginning at 12 p.m. and the second game to follow.
