The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

Perez Knowles and his Columbus State Cougars have carried their momentum from the regional championships to the NCAA Division II World Series.

The No.8 Cougars continue to advance through the bracket and in Knowles’ first start of the tournament, he led the team to a 6-0 win over No. 22 UC San Diego Tuesday night at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina.

Knowles pitched seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits with seven strikeouts as he improved his record to 8-3 on the season.

He pitched a perfect first inning but dealt with at least one baserunner in each of the next six. However, Knowles buckled down on each occasion and kept putting zeros on the board.

With the stakes at their highest, Knowles discussed his composure and use of placement and his breaking ball late in games.

“I had to keep my heart rate calm I guess and just try to execute the pitch that we were calling and hoping for the best,” he said. “I was getting a little tired, but I just had to keep fighting through it, making pitches and let the defence help me out.”

In their tournament debut, the Cougars defeated No. 24 Mercyhurst 8-1 on Sunday. Cougars ace Kolton Ingaham pitched eight innings and delivered 10 strikeouts.

Cougars starting pitchers have not given up a run in 15 innings through two games at the World Series.

Knowles said he was motivated to maintain the standard set by the other starters.

“Some of the guys they joked around and said, ‘Hey, you have to step it up now’ but I kind of just go out there, do my thing, control what I can control and whatever happens happens,” he said. “Yes. I use it as motivation but for the most part I just do what I have to do.”

The Cougars are scheduled to return to the field 3pm Thursday when they face the winner of the Florida Southern and Texas A&M Kingsville matchup.

“That was a really good UC San Diego team we beat. Again though, we were able to get hits at the right time and had another great outing on the mound, and that’s the recipe for success,” Cougars head coach Greg Appleton said. “We got some timely hits and Perez just took over and pitched a great ball game. He would have gone all nine if he hadn’t thrown so many pitches but he was still in control and we just decided to take him out.”

Columbus State is making its eighth overall appearance at the World Series and first since 2007. The Cougars are 12-12 all-time in World Series contests.

CSU captured the national championship in 2002, in addition to runner-up finishes in 1986 and 2007. The Cougars are one of three former national champions in the 2018 field, joining Florida Southern and Southern Indiana. UC San Diego, Southern New Hampshire, Augustana and Texas A&M Kingsville make up the rest of the eight-team field.

Columbus State punched its ticket to the World Series with its first regional title in 11 years. The Cougars went 5-1 last weekend – all against ranked teams – on their way to the Southeast Region championship. CSU had to battle back through the loser’s bracket, eliminating No. 2 North Greenville before downing No. 13 Belmont Abbey twice in the final.

Knowles pitched a complete game and gave up just seven hits with nine strikeouts as he led CSU to a win over North Greenville. An all Peach Conference Second team selection this season, he recorded a perfect eighth inning and struck out the first two batters he faced in the ninth.

Prior to his transfer to Columbus State, Knowles spent his previous collegiate years with the University of Troy Trojans.

Knowles appeared in 17 games out of the bullpen in two seasons. As a freshman, he appeared in 14 innings with 11 strikeouts and an ERA just over seven.

Once he transferred to Columbus State, Knowles appeared in 19 games for the Cougars and posted a 1.77 ERA and finished with a 3-3 record and a team-best three saves. He tallied 33 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.