The Georgia State baseball team set a new school of 35 wins on Friday afternoon, sweeping Alabama State in the final two regular season contests of the year. The Panthers took game one 11-8, before shutting down the Hornets in game two, 11-1.
The previous mark of 33 wins was set just last season. In three years as head coach, Greg Frady has produced two of the three 30-plus win seasons in school history.
Georgia State (35-20, 12-9 CAA) finished its season high 11-game home stand 9-2 as they prepare for the CAA Championship in Wilmington, N.C. beginning next Wednesday. Alabama State fell to 15-28 on the season.
The Panthers have clinched a spot in next week's championship, but are still awaiting their seed as the CAA plays the final conference games of the season on Saturday.
“I am very pleased with the day,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “The day belongs to our seniors. I have high expectations for our team. We didn't really play well in game one and I let them know it, but we played much better in game two. It is the seniors day as it is the last day we will play a game this season in Panthersville. It has been said many times how well how this senior class did during their time here and I am extremely proud of the job they have done.”
Georgia State used seven of pitchers in game two, holding the Hornets to just four hits in preparation for next week.
Junior Ryan Moore, fresh off a complete game CAA clinching win over Towson on Sunday, threw 2.0 innings, allowing just one hit, before handing it over to the bullpen.
Senior Derek Simmons belted a two run home run, his 12th of the season, in the top of the first to give the Panthers all of the run support they would need.
“It is a great feeling to play my final home game the way we did,” stated Simmons. “I am just really excited about going to Wilmington next week. Helping take this team to the next level, set a school record for wins, has just been something special. It starts at the top with our coaches, then our pitchers and then on to our players. The way we played in game two gives us a lot of confidence heading into next week.”
The Panthers got two more in the bottom of the second as senior Michael McCree scored on a balk by Hornet starter Jeremy Adams. Simmons followed with a single through the left side, scoring freshman Justin Malone to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead.
Alabama State got one back in the top of the third off of senior Robinson Polanco (4-2) who had relieved Moore. Polanco pitched one-inning, allowing one run to earn the win, striking out two.
Georgia State's big inning game in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs to take a ten run lead over the Hornets.
Junior Carl Moniz capped the inning with his ninth home run of the year, a solo shot to right field.
Zach Chastain, David Ferrer and Nick Squeglia eached pitched a scoreless inning of relief, while Ben Marshall and Will Campbell retired the side in the seventh to end the game.
Simmons finished the game 3-for-4 with two runs scored and five driven in.
Adams took the loss for the Hornets, falling to 1-2 on the season.
Just as in game two, Georgia State used a big inning, in this case two big innings, to take game one.
After allowing three runs to the Hornets in the top of the first, two of which were unearned on a Chase Childers error, the Panthers came back in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to take a one-run lead.
Senior Nick Hogan led off the inning with a walk, before stealing second, one of his three steals in the game. Hogan moved into a tie for ninth on the all-time career steals list with 31 in his two years at State.
Simmons singled to center, scoring Hogan to get the Panthers on the board. After junior Bradley Logan doubled to score Simmons, senior Matt Van Horn single, but was thrown out a first by the right fielder as Logan and Childers came across the plate.
Alabama State retook the lead in the top of the second with a pair of runs as Will Palmer relieved starter Aidan Francis.
Francis went 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and five runs, only one of which was earned.
The Panthers tied the game at five in the bottom of the second and took the lead with one in the bottom of the third.
Hornet starter Drew Quinney was relieved by Neil Washington after not recording an out in the top of the third. Quinney went 2.0 innings, allowing six runs on four hits, while walking four.
Alabama State added three in the top of the fourth to take an 8-6 lead on Ronald James two-run home run.
Senior Michael McCree, who had eight hits in a doubleheader with the Hornets earlier this season, doubled to right center with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at eight.
After Rannie Fore relieved Washington, Hogan dropped a perfect bunt for a hit down the first base line, scoring Moniz.
Washington (0-3) took the loss for the Hornets after going 2.2 innings, allowing just one hit, but four runs, all of which were earned.
Simmons followed with a double to right center, scoring Hogan and McCree to put the Panthers ahead by three.
Simmons finished game one, 2-for-3 with a run scored and four RBIs, while Van Horn went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two driven in.
Simmons finished the day with nine RBIs, going 5-for-7 at the plate with three runs scored.
Palmer (4-5) earned the win, going 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Senior John Locklear pitched a scoreless final inning for his third save of the season.
The Panthers will leave for Wilmington on Monday to get prepared for a practice day on Tuesday at the CAA Championship. Georgia State will play its first game on Wednesday. Once seeding and game times are known, it will be posted to GeorgiaStateSports.com, late Saturday evening.
