A day after the two teams combined for 27 runs and 33 hits, the Georgia State baseball team could only muster one in a 2-1 loss to Old Dominion in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. All three games of the series were decided by just one run, with the Panthers taking the first two contests.
With the loss, the Panthers fall to 23-11 and 6-3 in CAA play. The Monarchs improve to 11-19 on the season and 5-7 in conference play.
“We had runners in position today, we just could not get the hits to score them,” commented head coach Greg Frady after the game. “We struggled offensively all day long, but Ryan Moore pitched really outstanding. He mixed his pitches well and competed very effectively for us.”
The starting pitchers for each team were the story of the game as Monarch Ben Tomchick out-dueled Panther junior Ryan Moore, though neither factored into the decision.
Tomchick went 7.0 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out six.
Moore allowed just two hits over six innings, giving up one run and striking out three.
“It was a tough loss for us today,” commented Moore. “I really just wanted to try and give our offense a chance today and give them a chance to hit. Coach McFerrin and I have been working on some things after a couple of tough outings and I was glad to see those things start to work, but it is tough since we were not able to come away with the victory.”
The Panthers got on the board in the bottom of the fourth as senior Nick Hogan was hit by a pitch. He would be hit again later in the game and move into a third place on the all-time hit by pitch list with 23, trailing junior Bradley Logan by one.
After senior Derek Simmons singled to center, advancing Hogan to third, Frady used a double-steal with senior Chase Childers as the plate, scoring Hogan and giving State an early 1-0 lead.
Old Dominion got on the board in the top of the sixth as Joshua Wright doubled to left center, scoring Jake McAloose to tie the game.
The Monarchs scored the winning run in the top of the ninth as senior John Locklear (4-3) was able to quickly get the first two outs of the inning, before Chris Buss singled to center to continue the inning.
After Kenny Stoneback singled to third, Edgar Hernandez plated the winning run with a single to right center.
Locklear earned the loss for the Panthers after pitching three innings of relief, allowing just three hits and one run.
The Panthers had a chance to win in the bottom of the ninth as yesterday's hero, Chase Childers came to the plate with two on, but was forced into a pop fly to shortstop by Wright.
Chris Boggs (3-0) earned the win for the Monarchs after pitching a scoreless eighth. Austin Wright earned the save by pitching a scoreless ninth.
Georgia State will return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Birmingham to face Samford. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Live stats will be provided via GeorgiaStateSports.com.
