The Georgia State baseball team stepped out of conference play on Tuesday afternoon and fell to Samford, 12-2, at Joe Lee Griffin Stadium. After scoring two runs in the first inning, the Panthers were not able to plate another run, while the Bulldogs used a balanced attack at the plate and on the bases.
Georgia State, ranked No. 24 in the latest SEBaseball.com mid-major poll, fell to 23-12 on the season, while Samford improved to 12-24.
Samford starter Kyle Putkonen (2-2) stymied the Panther offensive attack, holding State to just six hits over the first seven innings. Putkonen allowed two runs while striking out a pair.
The Panther bats', which had been hot as of late, scored two runs in the top of the first. Senior Nick Hogan singled to lead off the game and got into scoring position by stealing second.
Hogan finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored, raising his average to .310.
Senior Chase Childers doubled to left, scoring Hogan and giving the Panthers an early lead. Childers has now reached safely in 14 straight games.
Junior Bradley Logan followed with a single to right, scoring Childers and putting State ahead 2-0.
The Bulldogs got two back quickly in the bottom of the second off Panther starter Adam Knight. The senior got out of a bases loaded situation to end the inning and settled down before Samford got on the board again in the fourth, taking a 3-2 lead.
Samford started to pull away in the top of the sixth, scoring four times to take a five-run lead.
Knight (1-3) would be relieved by freshman Nick Squeglia after facing four batters in the top of the sixth without recording an out. He lasted 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs, while walking five.
Samford hit a pair of home runs off freshman Ben Marshall in the bottom of the eighth, including a three-run home run by Mason Meredith and a two-run shot by Bo Smith.
Georgia State now returns home on Wednesday night to face No. 10 Georgia Tech. The Panthers are 2-3 against Georgia Tech under head coach Greg Frady, including a 10-1 win over the No. 3 Yellow Jackets at Russ Chandler Stadium earlier this year.
Tomorrow's game will air live on WRAS-FM 88.5 beginning at 5:30 p.m. with Panther Sports Talk. Dave Cohen will be joined in the booth by former Panther Jeramy Compton. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. with Georgia State President Dr. Mark Becker throwing out the first pitch. Live stats will be provided via GeorgiaStateSports.com.
