COLUMBIA, Mo. – A pair of dominant offensive performances highlighted a home doubleheader sweep for Columbia College baseball Friday morning, as the Cougars took down Hannibal-LaGrange 8-5 and 18-1 to improve to 20-9-1 overall and 11-2-1 in American Midwest Conference (AMC) play.

The opener featured a historic moment as senior Tyler Renn became Columbia College's all-time home run leader, launching his 52nd career home run to break the program record that was previously held by Brayden McGinnis (51). 

Zac Fruend set the tone early, connecting on a solo shot in the bottom of the first to give Columbia a 1-0 lead. The Cougars and Trojans traded blows throughought the game. Columbia had a four-run sixth inning with Fruend adding his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to make it 3-1, and Renn followed with his record-breaking blow to push the lead to 5-1. Hannibal chipped away in the top of the seventh to tie it at five apiece. In the bottom of the seventh, Dylan Carlton came up clutch to walk off the game with a three-run homerun. 

Kolten Payne worked six innings on the mound and Eric Fields closed things out to earn his fifth win of the season (5-0).

Game two was never a doubt. Columbia erupted for three runs in the first inning, including solo home runs by Fruend and Renn, and never looked back, sending 16 runs across in the first five frames. The Cougars' nine-run fourth inning proved the decisive blow, as Columbia took complete advantage of the seven walks issued by the Hannibal-LaGrange pitching staff. 

Parker Anderson was dominant in his five innings of work, allowing just one unearned run while striking out five to earn the win and improve to 5-2.
 

Game One Statistical Leaders:
CC def. HLGU, 8-5

• Zac Fruend: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs scored
• Dylan Carlton: 2-for-4, HR, 3 RBI
• Tyler Renn: 1-for-3, HR (career No. 52), 2 RBI — new Columbia College career home run record
• Pitching:
  • Kolten Payne: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 SO 
  • Eric Fields (W, 5-0): 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1BB,  2 SO

Game Two Statistical Leaders: 
CC def. HLGU, 18-1

• Joey Marcinkiewicz: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 3 runs, 2B
• Joe Hoerchler: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 3 runs, 2 BB
• Tyler Renn: 2-for-3, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
• Dylan Carlton: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Zac Fruend: 1-for-2, HR, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 3 runs
• Pitching:
  • Parker Anderson (W, 5-2): 5.0 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 H allowed, 5 SO
  • Carter Hutsell: 1.0 IP, 1 SO
  • Cooper Swift: 1.0 IP, 2 SO

The Cougars will look to complete the series sweep with game three on Monday, April 6 at 12:00 p.m.