Columbus seniors split twin bill at Norfolk

June 02--NORFOLK -- Columbus Cornerstone Insurance Group got its offense going in time Tuesday night to gain a split of a doubleheader at Norfolk.

After managing just three hits in dropping a 3-1 decision in the opener, the Columbus seniors American Legion baseball team bounced back with a 14-8 win in the nightcap.

Columbus (3-6) pounded out 12 hits, including six extra-base hits, and scored six runs in the final inning to pull out the victory. Eight of the nine players in the Columbus starting lineup had a least one hit, and the seniors picked up at least one hit in every inning but the fifth, when Columbus went down in order.

The seniors needed just two hits to score the six seventh-inning runs, taking advantage of wildness by the Norfolk pitchers. Columbus, which sent 10 batters to the plate in the frame, drew three walks and was hit by a pitch twice.

Trey Rinkol and Zach McDuffee had the only hits in the inning, with Rinkol's single driving in two and McDuffee's single plating one.

McDuffee, who had two of the three Columbus hits in the first game, had three in the second game to finish the night 5 for 7 at the plate. Two of the first baseman's hits in the second game were doubles.

Rinkol and Miles Putnam added two hits each, and each scored three times. One of Rinkol's hits was a triple, and he drove in three runs, while Putnam had a double and an RBI to go along with three stolen bases.

Columbus had five steals in the contest, with Rinkol and Brady Dugan also swiping bags.

Andrew Alstadt added a home run for Columbus, a one-out shot in the third inning to put the visitors up 5-0, and Cade Hansen also had an extra-base hit, a two-bagger, in the fourth.

Others getting hits for Columbus were Dugan, Brenden Martinsen and Jake Bonwell.

Curtis Brockhaus picked up the win on the mound in relief, holding Norfolk scoreless and hitless over the last three innings. The host team managed just four hits for the game against Brockhaus and starter Luke Jarecke.

McDuffee's two hits in the opener came with one out in the fourth and one out in the sixth. His sixth-inning single drove home Hansen, who reached on an error and stole second, cutting the Norfolk lead to 3-1.

Columbus threatened in the seventh when Tyler Nelson led off with a walk and Martinsen singled, but could not push the tying runs across.

Columbus is scheduled to host its own invitational tournament over the weekend at Pawnee Park Field.

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