PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. ? The Georgia State baseball team saw its eight-game winning streak come to an end on a wet and blistery Tuesday evening at The Field at Panthersville, as the Panthers fell 13-7 to Tennessee Tech. Chase Childers narrowly missed hitting for the cycle and led the State offense, going 3-for-4 with a single, a double, a triple and two runs scored.
Tennessee Tech (7-1-1) took advantage of State starter Bobby Bennett's wildness in the first inning to score three runs. Thomas Nelson and Chris King scored the first two runs of the game on passed balls before A.J. Kirby-Jones delivered a double to cap the scoring in the frame, putting the Golden Eagles up 3-0.
The Golden Eagles took advantage of a Panther error in the second to score two more runs while a double from King helped the visitors take a 6-0 lead into the third. After Bennett (0-1) left following a leadoff double in the top of the third, Panther reliever Zach Chastain recorded two quick outs before running into a little trouble. The righty gave up a pair of runs before getting a fly ball to end the inning.
Chastain stayed in control until the sixth when he gave up a three-run homer to Kendale Roach, putting Tennessee Tech ahead 12-0. With a strong wind blowing out, Alex Henry tacked on one more with a solo shot to center field.
Georgia State (8-1) finally got its offense on track in the sixth, as the Panthers sent 11 batters to the plate. Jean-Michel Rochon-Salvas led off the inning with a single down the left field line off Tennessee Tech reliever Adam Miller. Pinch runner Daniel Merck and Bradley Logan later scored on a double from Derek Simmons to right field, putting State on the board for the first time in the game.
Chase Childers missed a home run by just inches when he smacked the ball off the right centerfield wall, bringing home another run. Mitch Rider plated Childers with a double to deep left center, bringing the deficit to 13-4. With runners at second and third, Mike McCree helped close the gap with a rocket up the middle that drove in Rider and Jonathan Kolowich.
The Panthers tried to rally in the seventh, but only managed to push across one more run. Rider drove in Childers with a double to left center, drawing State within 13-7. Golden Eagle reliever Ryan Dennick pitched the final 3.1 innings to record his first save of the season.
Childers went 3-for-4 and lacked a home run for the cycle while scoring twice and driving in a run. McCree collected two hits and drove in a pair while Rider belted a pair of double and drove in two runs.
“Our team is never out of a game. We struggled getting started, but we were never out of it mentally,” said assistant coach Brad Stromdahl. “I am proud of how we came back to score some runs late, and the pitching performance of Joel Reeves. Joel had an outstanding outing and did what we asked of him in the situation.”
Reeves pitched three hitless, scoreless innings with two strikeouts to keep State within striking distance in the late innings.
The teams conclude their two-game series tomorrow at 2 p.m.
NOTES: Bobby Bennett made his 64th career appearance, tying him for second all-time in school history with Ryan Patrylo (1998-01) and Justin Singleton (1998-01) ... Jean-Michel Rochon-Salvas collected his 212nd and 213th career hits, breaking a tie with Justin Newman (2003-06) and taking sole possession of fourth place in school history.
