COLUMBUS, Ga. - The No. 4-ranked Columbus State University Cougars plated the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning to edge No. 17 Armstrong Atlantic State University, 7-6, in the first game of a Peach Belt Conference series at Ragsdale Field in Columbus.

The loss was the second straight for the Pirates (8-2, 0-1 PBC) after an 8-0 start, while Columbus State improved to 9-3 overall and 2-2 in the league.

The Pirates jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the game's first three innings. Richie Anderson's RBI single in the second put Armstrong in front, then an RBI double by Zach Taylor keyed a three-run third inning.

Columbus State then scored six straight runs, getting a two-run triple from Cameron Griffin in the fourth inning and then a two-run double from Brett Techner in the fifth to tie the game. The Cougars added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to take a 6-4 lead.

Armstrong tied things up with a pair of runs in the eighth inning on Alex Frederick's two-RBI single, pushing the game into extra innings.

Freshman lefty Chess Malone and CSU reliever Chase Gilreath each kept the other team off the scoreboard through three extra innings, but Columbus State then pushed across the winning run in the 13th as Cyle Rasmus hit a one-out triple and J.D. Pullen drove home the game-winner with a single.

Malone (0-1) took the loss for the Pirates, giving up five hits and one run in 5 2/3 innings pitched, walking one while striking out four. Gilreath picked up the win for the Cougars, hurling four innings of four-hit shutout ball, striking out three.

Frederick went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Pirates at the plate, while R.J. Dennard and John Roberts each collected a pair of hits.

Armstrong wraps up the three-game series with Columbus State with a noon doubleheader on Sunday at Ragsdale Field.