PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. ? The Georgia State baseball team scored three runs in the second and fifth innings and got a complete-game effort from left-hander Robinson Polanco to beat Northeastern 7-4 in the opener of their Colonial Athletic Association series Friday night. Nick Hogan delivered the big hit in the second with a two-run single while Bradley Logan led the Panther attack doing 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs.
Northeastern (9-9, 2-5 CAA) got on the scoreboard first with a solo home run from David Gustafson in the top of the second. State answered back quickly, scoring three in bottom of the second. Bradley Logan led off the frame with a single, stole second and scored on Marc Mimeault's single through the left side. With the bases loaded, Nick Hogan singled to the gap in left center, bringing in Derek Simmons and Theo Asher to give the Panthers a 3-1 lead.
With two outs in the third, the Huskies tied the game with an RBI-single from Mike Tamsin and a run-scoring double from Mike Lyon. In the fifth, NU took a 4-3 lead off State starter Robinson Polanco (5-1) when Frank Compagnone hit into a fielder's choice to short. Panther shortstop Chase Childers threw home, attempting to prevent the run from scoring but James Donaldson got in under the tag to give the Huskies the lead.
Georgia State (16-8, 5-5 CAA) rose to the challenge in the bottom of the frame, scoring three runs off Northeastern starter Kris Dabrowiecki (1-3). Hogan led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and scored on Logan's single to right, tying the game. Simmons drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle and Theo Asher capped the scoring with another single up the middle, giving State a 6-4 lead.
State tacked on an insurance run in the seventh after Childers' leadoff triple against reliever Sheldon McDonald. Logan reached on a fielder's choice that brought in Childers to hand the Panthers a 7-3 advantage.
After some early struggles, Polanco settled in and sat down 12 of the final 13 batters in the game. The junior lefty finished the game with a season-high nine strikeouts, including two in the final inning. “At the beginning I couldn't feel my fastball and didn't have much command, but when I found my grip I got into a rhythm and never looked back,” said Polanco. “It's important that the team had a good strength coach in Tredell Dorsey. He did a good job with us and got our bodies strong and the team is grateful for that.”
Despite hammering out 10 hits, the Panthers only got one extra-base hit ? the triple from Childers in the seventh. Head coach Greg Frady wasn't worried about collecting one-baggers though. “I am very happy with the team, and the emphasis is truly on team,” he said. We have been using a lot of people to win and it was exciting to get a strong start from Robinson Polanco tonight.”
State benefited from solid defensive play throughout the game, as the Panthers put together an 8-4-2 relay play to end the third inning and catcher Marc Mimeault caught a base runner straying too far from third base after a play at the plate.
Logan, Mimeault and Simmons each collected two hits while Logan and Hogan each drove in a pair of runs. Logan was the only Panther to score more than one run, but five other players touched home plate for State.
The teams play game two of their CAA series tomorrow at 1 p.m.
NOTES: Jean-Michel Rochon-Salvas had his 232nd career hit in the first inning, moving within one hit of tying Charlie Pelt (2004-07) for second place in school history ... Robinson Polanco has registered 17 strikeouts in his last two starts.
