COLUMBUS — Butte Central’s baseball season came to an end Friday with a 6-1 loss to Columbus in an A/B play-in game. (Boxscore)

The Cougars scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning and never trailed in the win that sends Columbus to the Class A/B State tournament, which is next week in Polson.

Ryan Cunningham pitched into the seventh inning, striking out seven batters to get the win.

Jake Cook doubled for Columbus, while Ethan West, Koleman Gairrett and Graycen Waltner each hit a pair of singles. Gairrett drove in two runs.

Gunnar O’Brien, who pitched well after the tough start, went 3 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Maroons at the dish. Jack Nagle doubled, while Trapper Stajcar, Colt Hassler, Kelton Berger and Treigh Hollow singled.

Beau McGree worked a pair of walks, and Stajcar scored the lone run on an O’Brien hit.

The loss closes the book on the prep baseball career for BC seniors Berger, Nagle, Trapper Stajcar, Tony Stajcar and Kelton Keene. Keene missed the entire season after suffering a knee injury in the first football game of the season.

The Maroons close the season at 7-7.