A 45-minute rain delay to begin the game could not cool the Panther bats as the Georgia State baseball team earned an 11-6 over VCU on Saturday night. Senior Marc Mimeault hit his team high 11th home run of the season and had three hits while driving in three to lead the Panther offense.
With the win, Georgia State improved 28-18 and 10-7 in the CAA and regained second place in the conference by percentage points over James Madison. VCU fell to 19-19 and 7-10 in CAA action.
“There are no words I can use to express how pleased I am with the team right now,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “Tonight's win really showed that I think we are coming together as a team at the right time. We played in a very mature way tonight. Good starting pitching, quality relief work and solid defense behind them, as well as timely hitting, made it a great win for our organization tonight.”
Mimeault's eighth inning home run moved him into the top ten in a single season in Panther history in home runs with six others, mostly recently, junior Bradley Logan who hit 11 last season.
“I have been really focusing in at the plate and having a good approach when I come up to bat,” commented Mimeault. “It is not that I have been guessing the pitch, but rather knowing the sequence to other batters and just trusting my hands when I come to the plate.”
Mimeault raised his batting average to a team high .389, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
The game was a lot closer than the final score might indicate as for the second straight evening, the Panthers needed some late runs to earn the victory.
State broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh with five runs, highlighted by a Derek Simmons two- RBI single. Mimeault earned his second hit of the game and pinch hitter Joey Wood doubled off the top of the center field wall, scoring Mimeault from second as the team batted around.
Last night, Georgia State needed six eighth inning runs to take the opening game against the Rams.
Also like the Friday night contest, VCU got on the board in the top of the first. Doug Otto singled to left field with two outs and scored on an R.J. Schenk double to left center.
Joe Van Meter singled to left in the top of the third, scoring Otto and Richard Gonzalez to put VCU ahead 3-0.
Senior Matt Van Horn got the Panthers on the board in the bottom of the third with a single to right field, scoring Simmons. Mimeault followed with a single to left field, scoring Van Horn and junior Bradley Logan as the Panthers tied the game.
Van Horn finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate, driving in two and scoring once. Simmons equally had another good day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
The Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth on Ram starter Robbie Andrews. Seth Cutler-Voltz relieved Andrews as the Panthers scored twice to take a 5-3 lead. Logan hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Hogan before Van Horn singled to center, scoring Simmons.
Andrews would not factor into the decision, going 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and five runs, while walking three.
The Rams tied the score in the top of the seventh with two runs as senior John Locklear relieved starter Will Palmer.
Palmer, who did not factor into the decision, went 6.2 innings, allowing eight hits and five runs, while striking out nine.
Locklear (5-4) earned the win after one inning pitched and allowing just one run.
Senior Robinson Polanco earned his first save of the season, throwing the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit.
Cutler-Voltz (2-2) took the loss for VCU. The freshman threw three innings of relief, allowing three hits and two runs, both of which were earned.
Logan finished the game 2-for-4, while senior Nick Hogan added a pair of runs.
Georgia State and VCU will conclude their three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. Live stats will be available via GeorgiaStateSports.com.
