COLUMBUS, Ga. – Columbus State University exploded for a six-run fifth inning to rally past No. 8 (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper Division II Top 30) Flagler College 9-7 and sweep the Peach Belt Conference series Sunday afternoon at Ragsdale Field.

Columbus State won its fourth game in a row and raised its overall record to 21-10 and evened its mark in the Peach Belt at 9-9. Flagler drops to 23-7 overall and 11-6 in conference play.

The Saints got on the board first with a pair of runs in the first inning. Lorenzo Butler hit an RBI double, which scored Andrew Brodbeck, for the game's first run. Kolin McMillen, who had reached on a bunt single, scored from third on a ground out to give Flagler a 2-0 lead.

Flagler added three more runs in the third. McMillen hit an RBI double and he scored two batters later on Nick Kranick's home run to left-center. That left the Saints with a 5-0 lead.

Both teams added a run to make the score 6-1 Flagler going into the bottom of the fifth.

The Cougars would plate six runs on five hits and sent 10 men to the plate. Brendan Collins started the rally by leading off the inning by reaching second base on an error by Butler, Flagler's center fielder. A ground out moved him along to third and Collins scored on a single by Mike McClellan. Blaine Miller followed with a single and Chris Daniel was hit by a pitch by Flagler starter Michael Maiocco (5-1) to load the bases. Carson Bowers hit a two-run single to left and the Cougars trailed 6-4. Blake Edwards followed with a single to re-load the bases and Matt Nettles singled through the right side of the infield to score two more runs to tie the game at 6-all. Chris Lake came on in relief of Maiocco with runners on the corners and one out. The first batter he faced was Tim Massengale and he lifted a ball into right field which was deep enough to score Edwards and the Cougars took the lead, 7-6.

Columbus State added an insurance run in the sixth inning. Jackson Oliver led off the frame with a double to the right-center gap and scored two batters later on Miller's single to center.

The Saints closed the gap with a run in the eighth when Todd Juliano scored on a single by Shawn Hendon.

The Cougars got that run right back in the bottom of the eighth.

Bryan Headley (3-2) allowed nine hits and six runs, but struck out five in five innings of work to earn the win. Trey Watson recorded his fifth save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Oliver went 3-for-4 to pace the 14-hitt attack by the Cougars. He hit a double and scored two runs. McClellan collected two singles, scored two runs and drove in another. Bowers also singled twice, but scored one run and had two runs batted in.

Maiocco surrendered eight hits, allowed five earned runs and fanned four in his 4.1 innings of work. Six different Flagler pitchers threw this afternoon.

McMillen led the Saints attack going 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Hendon singled twice and he drove in a run.

Flagler plays host to Valdosta State University on Wednesday (April 1) at 5 p.m. at Drysdale Field.