ATLANTA ? The Georgia State baseball team scored 10 runs in the first four innings en route to a 12-4 non-conference win over Samford at The Field at Panthersville. Bradley Logan drove in three runs while Daniel Merck delivered the big hit in the second, tripling down the right field line to give State a 2-0 lead and start the offense. Adam Knight pitched five innings, giving up one earned run to record the win.
Georgia State (26-18) got on the board in the first when Jonathan Kolowich scored on a wild pitch from Samford starter Grant Sides (2-3). The Panther offense exploded in the second, scoring five runs on five hits and chasing Sides.
With two outs and Derek Simmons at second, Daniel Merck tripled down the right field line to get the Panther attack rolling. After a walk to Nick Hogan, Kolowich singled up the middle to bring in Merck. Chase Childers doubled to bring in another run while Bradley Logan beat down the door with a single through the left side that scored two more runs, giving State a 6-0 lead.
The Panthers added two more runs in the third and fourth, building a 10-1 lead for starter Adam Knight (3-3). Knight got into a bases loaded jam in the third, but escaped with final damage after getting a double play. The junior got into a little trouble in the fifth with his command, as Samford pushed across three unearned runs. Knight settled down and got a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the frame with a 10-4 lead.
After Knight left, State used four pitched who shut the door on the Bulldogs. Theo Asher threw two scoreless innings and struck out two. Chas Skees pitched a shutout frame in the eighth while Will Campbell registered two outs in the ninth before Logan moved to the mound and closed out the game with a strikeout.
“It was a total team effort. Our pitching staff rebounded really well after a tough weekend and our offense was really clicking today,” said Simmons. “That big inning definitely gave us a confidence.”
State took advantage of Samford's wildness on the mound, as four of the Panthers' 12 runs reached base due to walks. Kolowich, Childers and Simmons each collected two hits in the win. Logan drove in three runs while Merck brought in a pair and tripled.
Georgia State continues its 15-game homestand with a three-game Colonial Athletic Association series against Delaware, starting on Friday, May 2.
NOTES: Aaron Schmitz pinch hit in the eighth and recorded his first collegiate hit with an infield single ... In the ninth, Bradley Logan pitched for the first time since facing Jacksonville State on April 11, 2007 ... Georgia State alumnus and State Sen. David Adelman threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
