Wingate, N.C.----Columbus State University sophomore infielder Justin Evans connected on three homers Friday night, driving in seven runs to lead the visiting Cougars to a 14-7 victory at Wingate University in NCAA Division II baseball action at Ron Christopher Stadium and Plyler Athletic Field. Columbus State improve to 4-4 on the year, while the Bulldogs fall to 2-7 overall.

Evans went four-for-six on the day, with three homers, seven RBI and five runs scored. Mason McClellan was three-for-five with a homer and three RBI, while Turner Vincent added three hits, an RBI and a run scored. Tyler Fichter contributed two hits, an RBI and two run scored, while Miles Cameron also drove in a run and scored a run.

Redshirt freshman outfielder Joseph Mason (Morehead City, N.C.) went four-for-five with a double, homer and two runs scored to lead the Wingate attack. Junior Aaron Nanney (Gastonia, N.C.) added a homer and two RBI, while sophomores Austin Turgeon (Athens, Ga.) and Micah Goodwin (Rougemont, N.C.) also homered for the Bulldogs. Junior Ty Andrus (Winston-Salem, N.C.) drove in a pair of runs, while Reece Daniel (Asheboro, N.C.) and Colby Barnette (Monroe, N.C.) added two hits each.

Wingate took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mason led off the frame with a double, then scored on an RBI single from Andrus. Columbus State answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning when Evans connected on his first homer of the day, a three-run shot to center.

Turgeon started the second inning with a single, then went to third on a double from Daniel. Turgeon scored on an RBI groundout from Andrus to make it 3-2.

Evans gave the Cougars a four-run lead in the fourth when he connected on his second three-run shot of the night to make it 6-2.

Wingate cut into the lead in the bottom of the inning, starting with Turgeon's first homer of the season, a solo shot to left to make it a three-run game. Mason lined a solo shot to right center later in the frame to make it 6-4.

Columbus State scored three more runs in the fifth to take a five-run advantage. An RBI single from Fichter plated the first run of the inning, while a Wingate error and Vincent RBI single made it 9-4. Evans scored on a squeeze bunt from Cameron in seventh to give CSU a six-run lead.

The Bulldogs scored three runs in the seventh to get within three. Nanney connected on his first homer as a Bulldog to start the rally, a two-run shot down the rightfield line. Goodwin followed with a solo shot to left, his second of the year to make it 10-7.

Columbus State scored four runs in the ninth to make the final margin 14-7. Evans started the scoring with his third homer of the night, a solo shot to left to give the Cougars a four-run edge. McClellan added a three-run shot to push the lead to seven.

Caleb Kutsche got the win, moving to 3-0 on the year. He allowed seven runs on 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking two while throwing 129 pitches. Perez Knowles worked 2 2/3 shutout innings for his second save of the year, striking out two and walking one. Senior right-hander Brandon Donahue (Charlotte, N.C.) took the loss, falling to 1-2. He allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking three.

The Bulldogs and Cougars are back in action Saturday at 2 p.m. The two teams wrap up the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. on ESPN3.