Tournament Central
The Georgia State baseball team split a doubleheader on Friday on the first day of the Bethune Cookman University Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla. After falling in game one to Xavier, 5-1, the Panther pitching staff pitched its second shutout of the season, blanking Michigan State, 2-0.
The Panthers (7-3) got stellar pitching performances against the Spartans (1-7), as senior Robinson Polanco (1-0) and freshman Justin Malone combined for the Panthers second shutout of the season.
“We started out flat in game one and just could not get it going,” commented Head Coach Greg Frady. “As a team, we talked about needing to step up in game two and Robinson came out and did that for us. Justin Malone also really stepped up for us today in a time when we really needed him.”
Georgia State got things going in the top of the fourth as junior Bradley Logan led off the inning with a double down the left field line. After advancing on a balk, senior Derek Simmons got on base by an error by the shortstop, scoring Logan.
The Panthers would score again in the top of the fifth. Senior Nick Hogan led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout. Junior Carl Moniz followed that with a single to center, scoring Hogan and giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead that would stand up.
Polanco went 5.0 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five.
“I am supposed to be one of the leaders of this team and at the beginning of the season, I really haven't been feeling good when throwing,” commented Polanco. “I put it into my mind that I needed to do a better job and after coach pulled me out of the rotation, I really focused in on what I needed to do. Today was a good way for me to show that I can be a leader on this team and was able to help us get a win in a game that we needed.”
Malone earned his second save of the season after pitching 4.0 innings of scoreless relief.
“I was just pumped to get in and pitch,” commented Malone. “Robinson just pitched one heck of a game and I knew I had to come in, throw strikes and get people out and keep them from scoring to help Robinson out and get the win for us. If he had pitched like that and had not earned the win, it just would not have been right.”
Xavier got the best of the Panthers in game one. Behind a strong effort from Musketeer pitcher Nathan Mutsch (2-0), the Panthers could muster just five hits.
Junior Ryan Moore (2-1) earned his first loss of the year, allowing seven hits and five runs, four earned, over 6.1 innings.
Xavier got on the board in the bottom of the second, as Drew Schmidt hit a sac fly to score Bobby Freking, giving the Musketeers a 1-0 lead.
State would try to get something going in the top of the third as Brandon Williams singled to center to lead off the inning. Senior Marc Mimeault, returning to the line-up after missing the last three games, was hit by a pitch and both would advance after a wild pitch. Unfortunately, each was stranded to end the inning.
Freking would get Xavier on the board again in the bottom of the fourth. After singling to center and advancing two bases on a failed pick-off attempt, he would score on a Sean Farrell single.
After Xavier added another run in the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers would put one on the board in the top of the sixth. Hogan dropped a perfect bunt for a hit and after senior Chase Childers singled to center, junior Bradley Logan would single Hogan home. Both runners would be stranded to end the inning.
Xavier's Adam Posono led off the bottom of the seventh with a home run to put the Musketeers up 4-1. They would add one later in the inning for the four run victory.
Georgia State will continue their six-game road trip on Saturday as the Panthers take on Xavier once again, first pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. Live stats will be available via GeorgiaStateSports.com all weekend long.
