10/22/09 - PIRATES SPLIT TWINBILL AT CSU - Columbus, GA

The CVCC Pirates travelled across town today to play a day/night doubleheader with NCAA Division II powerhouse Columbus State University. Game one started well for the Pirates, who got on the scoreboard first after Tyler Googe homered to left field in the second inning. The lead wouldn't last long, however, as Columbus State's potent offense answered back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Googe added a second homer later in the game, but it was all CSU the rest of the way as the Cougars powerful offense handed the Pirates a 10-3 defeat.

Game two saw a change in the script as the Pirates used strong pitching efforts from sophomores Jeff Shields, Chris Graves, and Ethan Brubaker to hold the Cougars scoreless through the first seven and two-thirds innings of action. The Chatt Valley offense got underway as well, putting up six early runs, capped by an opposite field homer run off the bat of freshman backstop, Kieth Tidwell. The Pirates rallied in the eigth inning as well, as Matt Black delivered a two out, full count single into left center to plate a pair of runs in the four run Pirate Attack. The Cougars wouldn't go quietly, as they finally got to Brubaker with two outs in the eight inning for four runs. Both clubs would add another run in the ninth as Chatt Valley earned the split with an 11-5 victory.

The event served as an excellent opportunity for both teams to compete against a quality opponent, and the evening also served as somewhat of a homecoming for players of both teams. Former Pirates Wade Dudley, Wes Adkins, Alex Montes, Drew Freeman, Jordan Freeman, and Logan Foster are all members of the CSU squad this year, and Dudley, Montes, Adkins, and Drew Freeman along with other Cougars Iain Sebastian, Merritt Hicks, Chris Martin, Robbie Nettles, Davind Lane, Noah Watkins, Ryan Lewis, and Blake Sills all played for CV coaches Adam Thomas and Dash O'Neill this summer with the Columbus Woodbats summer collegiate team.

The Pirate baseball team is grateful to Columbus State for the opportunity to play a scrimmage, and a chance to have a bit of a reunion with so many familiar faces.