COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of West Georgia baseball team suffered a 7-6, 10-inning road loss to Columbus State on Wednesday evening at Ragsdale Field in its final action before spring break.

Stepping away from Gulf South Conference play for the midweek matchup, the Wolves (7-9, 7-8 GSC) built a 5-1 lead against their in-state foe through five innings, but the Cougars (7-2, 6-2 Peach Belt Conference) rallied in the late innings, scoring three in the seventh and single runs in the eighth, ninth and 10^th to escape with the one-run decision.

The setback spoiled a strong start from UWG sophomore Peyton Berry, who tossed five innings, allowing one run on four hits with no walks and six strikeouts for the no-decision.

West Georgia drew first blood in the top of the second after junior center fielder Jason Fointno doubled down the left-field line and scored in the next at-bat on an RBI base knock from senior catcher Lane Griffith.

The Cougars threatened in the home half of the second by getting a pair of runners aboard, but Berry struck out three batters in a row to keep it a one-run game.

CSU pulled even in the bottom of the fourth on a solo shot from catcher Robert Brooks, but the Wolves answered with a huge fifth frame.

With the bases loaded, freshman designated hitter Jackson Webb was hit by a pitch to put UWG back on top, which was followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Fointno and Griffith also getting hit by a pitch to plate another run. Sophomore right fielder John Michael McRae tacked on the fourth run of the inning with an RBI sacrifice fly for the 5-1 advantage.

Columbus State responded with its big inning in the seventh, starting with a solo home run from designated hitter Will Wilbanks, while shortstop Isaac Bouton added a two-out, two-run double to pull the host squad within 5-4.

The Cougars tied the game at 5-all in the eighth on a solo home run from left fielder Dane Bullock, but the Wolves answered with a run in the ninth.

Fointno led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Griffith, stole third and scored on a throwing error.

In the bottom of the ninth, Bouton got things going for the Cougars with a leadoff double and moved to third on a single by Brooks, setting up an RBI fielder's choice off the bat of first baseman Steven Minter to force extra innings.

In the top of the 10^th, UWG junior shortstop Cody Mish reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second on an error. CSU intentionally walked UWG senior first baseman Dan Oberst to put runners on first and second with one out, but the Cougars got out of the jam with a strikeout and groundout.

In all, the Wolves stranded 14 runners on base in the one-run decision on Wednesday.

Columbus State brought home the winning run on a bases-loaded hit batsman in the bottom of the 10^th for the tough setback.

Oberst (2-for-3, 2B, 3 BB, run), Griffith (2-for-3, 2 RBI), McRae (2-for-4, RBI) and Fointno (2-for-5, SB, 2B, 2 runs, RBI) recorded multiple-hit efforts for the Wolves.

The Wolves are now off until March 19-20 when they return to league action by hosting West Alabama in a three-game series at Cole Field.