The Georgia State baseball team fell to Tennessee Tech on Wednesday afternoon, 6-4, on the second stop of a three city road trip, the longest stint away from home this season. Redshirt-freshman Joey Wood, who is battling injuries and not able to play in the field, drove in all four Panther runs on two hits in the loss.
With three games to play, the Panthers are 3-2 on the trip, falling to 26-15 on the season. Tennessee Tech improved to 19-16 with the loss, as the two teams split a regular season series for the second consecutive year.
“The play of Brandon Williams and Joey Wood highlighted the game,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “Those two really carried the team today, as did a lot of our younger players and deserve a lot of credit for keeping us in the game. Will Campbell pitched well for us in relief as well and kept us in the game until the end.”
Both teams were retired quickly in the first before Williams led off the top of the second by reaching on an error and advancing to second. Wood followed by grounding out to third, scoring Williams to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
“I have been struggling a bit at the plate,” stated Wood. “With Brandon getting on base ahead of me in the line-up several times today, I really just wanted to put the ball in play. Right now, I just want to do everything I can to help the team since with my injury I can't play the field and am not able to slide head first into the bag.”
Senior Adam Knight did not allow a hit until the bottom of the third when the Golden Eagles got on the board with four runs. A.J. Kirby-Jones capped the inning for Tennessee Tech with a two-out, two-run home, putting the Golden Eagles ahead 4-1.
The Panthers got one back in the top of the fourth as Williams singled to right with one out. Wood followed with a two-out double to right center, scoring Williams and cutting the deficit to two.
Senior Derek Simmons led off the top of the sixth with a single to left. After senior Chase Childers fouled out, Ryan Dennick relieved Matthew Sheppeard for Tennessee Tech.
Sheppeard (3-1) pitched 5.1 innings for the win, allowing just four hits and three runs, only one of which was earned.
Dennick finished the game for the Golden Eagles to earn the save, his second of the season. Dennick went 3.2 innings, allowing just two hits and one run, while striking out five.
Williams followed by reaching base on a fielder's choice and scored when Wood doubled down the line as he and Simmons crossed the plate, tying the score.
The Golden Eagles recaptured the lead in the bottom of the sixth on a Chad Oberaker solo home run to lead off the inning, which ended up being all they would need.
Tennessee Tech scored one more time in the bottom of the seventh, before Will Campbell relieved Knight.
Knight (1-4) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing six hits, six runs, five of which were earned, while striking out six and walking just two.
Campbell went the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one hit.
Although finishing the game with just one hit, Williams scored three runs and reached base on three occasions.
The Panthers will conclude their road trip and return to CAA play at James Madison on Friday afternoon. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Live stats will be provided for via GeorgiaStateSports.com.
