Baseball: Chargers Drop a Pair

Despite out hitting their opponents 16-9, Columbia State falls twice in Marianna, FL.

A costly error leads to a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as No. 18 Shelton State hands the No. 2 ranked Chargers their first defeat of the season.

Cody Puckett got the start going three innings while punching out six. Chargers lead 2-0 going into the the seventh. A passed ball strike out kept Shelton State alive and a two-run single off of reliever Dallas Gibson forced extra innings. Riley Delgado paced the drab offensive contest by going 3-4 with a double. Gibson is handed the tough-luck loss.

Game two featured the No. 2 Chargers matching up against the No. 6 Indians of Chipola.

Columbia native Dylan Stewart provided a strong start allowing two runs in 4 1/3 innings of work. Runners left on base and double plays turned out to be the difference in this game.

Columbia bats pounded out nine hits including chasing out a Chipola starter who was up to 98 mph in the first. But three double plays, including one to end the game, prevented the good guys from capitalizing.

With the Chargers leading 2-1 going into the fifth, a leadoff walk and throwing error on a bunt allowed Chipola to take a 3-2 lead. The Indians would tack on one run in the sixth to give you the final 4-2 despite mustering only three hits on the afternoon.

Riley Delgado and Isaiah Aluko collected two knocks each for the good guys. Nashville native Jonathan Cook is tagged for the loss.

Chargers return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Decatur, Al where they take on the Calhoun Warhawks.