The Georgia State baseball team fell in the series finale to Delaware on Sunday afternoon, 8-4, as the Blue Hen pitching staff shut down the Panthers, a day after giving up 30 runs to State. Senior Derek Simmons extended his hitting streak to 15 games, hitting his fifth home run of the season.
With the loss, Georgia State fell to 19-9 on the season and 4-2 in the CAA, while Delaware improved to 17-10 and 5-4 in CAA play.
Delaware starter Rich O'Donald (3-2) held the Panthers scoreless thru four innings, finishing the game by going 8.0 innings, allowing eight hits and just four runs, while striking out five.
“Obviously I am disappointed to lose today,” commented head coach Greg Frady after the game. “However, I am pleased that we won the series and played hard all day. Ryan Moore gave us six strong innings and Derek Simmons' home run got us the lead late in the game. Rich O'Donald just pitched a solid game for Delaware today and it proved to be the difference.”
The Blue Hens got things going in the first as Bill Merkler reached on an error by senior Chase Childers, allowing Carlos Alonso, who led off the game with a single to right, to score.
Delaware scored again in the second to take a 2-0 lead, as Chris Nehl doubled to right center, plating Alonso for the second time of the day.
State got one back in the top of the fifth as senior Marc Mimeault singled to lead off the inning. Senior Nick Hogan dropped a perfect bunt, scoring Mimeault, to cut the deficit to one.
The Blue Hens expanded their lead back to two in the bottom of the sixth as Olson homered to right center.
Georgia State took their first lead of the game as senior Nick Hogan singled up the middle with two outs in the top of the seventh, giving State second and third after senior Michael McCree was hit by a pitch. Simmons followed with a three-run home run as State took a 4-3 lead.
Unfortunately, the lead would not last long as after Alonso walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh, chasing starter Ryan Moore for the Panthers.
Moore finished the game pitching six innings, allowing six hits, four runs, three of which were earned, striking out seven. He would not factor in the decision.
Delaware continued the inning by scoring five runs, as Knight and Will Campbell combined to allow four runs before sophomore Aidan Francis and senior John Locklear were able to get State out of the inning.
Knight earned the loss and fell to 0-2 on the season. Francis came in to pitch relief in each of the three games over the weekend.
Junior Carl Moniz' 18-game hitting streak was broken up after going 0-for-3. It is the longest hitting streak of the season for the Panthers, as senior Matt Van Horn had a 17-game streak halted earlier this season.
Georgia State will conclude their four-game road trip on Tuesday as the Panthers travel to Auburn. Tuesday's game will air live on WRAS-FM 88.5 with Panthers Sports Talk beginning at 6:30 p.m. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
