The Georgia State baseball team swept a doubleheader from Eastern Michigan (2-6) on Saturday afternoon at The Field at Panthersville. The Panthers (6-1) were led by the bat of sophomore Jonathan Kolowich, defense of Carl Moniz and strong pitching efforts from Ryan Moore and John Locklear.
State won the first game 14-6 after Moore relieved Adam Knight who had started the game on Friday, before rain halted play with Georgia State ahead, 1-0. The Panthers would take game two, 12-6, off the hot bat of senior Chase Childers who went 3-for-5 with three runs driven in.
“I am so happy with our team right now,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “We got going very early this morning to get the field ready for today after a lot of rain last night. We worked really hard before the games ever got started and as a coach, you always get scared that it may take a lot out of your team. However, our team is very resilient and they know what to do for us to win games and right now they are doing a great job of it.”
After a slow start to the season, Moniz got things going on Saturday at both the plate and in the field. After pinch-hitting in game one and moving to second base, Moniz helped turn a pair of double plays in the late innings to stunt any potential Eagle comebacks. In the second game, Moniz went 1-for-3 from the plate, driving in three runs and scoring a pair.
“Carl and I talked this week and although he was off to a little bit of a slow start, I reminded him to always compete when he comes to the park,” commented Frady. “He came to the park today ready to go and came in, got a pinch-hit and really hit well in the second game.”
“It felt good to get in the game and get things going,” commented Moniz. “I hadn't played right field in about sixth months, but it was just an amazing day for our team. I am just really excited to get back in the batter's box and keep it going again.”
The star of Wednesday's game, Jonathan Kolowich kept things going on Saturday at the plate. The sophomore finished the two games 4-for-8 with three RBIs, three runs scored and his second home run of the year.
“Ryan Moore really got things going for us and set the pace for the entire game,” commented Kolowich after the game. “The team was just swinging the bats really well and I was just glad to be able to help us get a pair of wins.”
Eagle Kyle Rhoad led off the first game with a two-RBI double to give Eastern Michigan the lead, but it would be short lived.
Senior Michael McCree led off the bottom of the second with a single, only to be was followed by freshman Chris Hallum's single to right field. Senior Nick Hogan doubled to right, scoring Hallum to tie the game at two. Senior Derek Simmons followed that with a single to right field, scoring Hogan and Hallum.
The inning continued with senior Chase Childers walking, followed by a Bradley Logan single to left field, scoring Simmons. After a Matt Van Horn single, Kolowich singled to center field, scoring Logan and Childers, giving the Panthers a 7-2 lead.
State would continue to add on the runs in the bottom of the third, as senior Theo Asher doubled to start the inning, which forced Eagle Sean Hoffman (0-1) out of the game after allowing 9 runs on 10 hits in just 2.1 innings.
Hallum and Asher would score when Derek Simmons reached on an error, putting the Panthers ahead 9-2.
From there, the Panthers would coast, tacking on runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh.
Moore (2-0) would finish the game allowing just three hits in 4.2 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three for the win. Freshman Ben Marshall would pitch the final three innings, striking out seven, while allowing four runs, three earned.
Hogan finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored, while Kolowich went 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Eastern Michigan would get on the board first in game two when Matt Shirving homered to left field.
The Panthers would quickly respond in the bottom of the second inning, scoring four runs, all with two outs. After Kolowich singled and junior Carl Moniz walked, Hallum would get hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Panthers. Sophomore Theo Asher would double off the right-center field wall clearing the bases. Senior Michael McCree would single home Asher to put the Panthers ahead 4-1.
Eastern Michigan's Aaron Powell would hit a two-run homerun in the top of the third to cut the Eagle deficit to one, but that would be as close as they would get.
Childers would lead off the bottom of the third with his second home run of the season. After Logan was hit by a pitch and Van Horn singled, Kolowich would reach on a fielder's choice. Moniz followed that with a three-run home run, his first of the season to put the Panthers ahead 8-3.
Eagle starter Jordan Goldschmidt would be pulled from the game after hitting Hallum with a pitch. Goldschmidt allowed nine runs on seven hits in just 2.1 innings.
Corey Chaffins would come in and allow two more Panther runs, the first coming on a Simmons single, scoring Hallum. The second run would score on a Childers double to right field, scoring Asher.
The Eagles would add a run in the top of the fifth on a Kyle Rhoad home run.
Locklear (2-0) would last five innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out four for the win.
Freshman Nick Squeglia would pitch 2.1 innings before freshman Justin Malone got the final five outs for the Panthers.
The two teams will meet for the final game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. Admission to the park is free of charge.
