Wilmington, N.C.?Bradley Logan and Chase Childers homered to back a solid pitching performance by Will Palmer as the Georgia State baseball team defeated UNC Wilmington, 8-5, in the second round of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships Thursday at UNCW's Brooks Field.
Georgia State (37-20), which won its sixth straight game, advances in the winner's bracket to face top-seeded George Mason Friday at 3:30 p.m. Host UNC Wilmington (29-22) falls into the loser's bracket and will face Delaware in an elimination game Friday at 12 noon.
Palmer (5-5), the senior lefthander from Atlanta, took the Panthers into the eighth inning, allowing five runs on 12 hits while striking out eight and walking just one in 7-2/3 innings.
Freshman Justin Malone finished a Georgia State victory for the second straight day as he recorded the final four outs to earn his sixth save of the season.
The Panthers built a 6-1 lead before UNC Wilmington rallied with two runs in the seventh and two runs in the eight to pull within 6-5. But Georgia State senior catcher Marc Mimeault drove in two key insurance runs with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth.
“It was really important for us to put up those last two runs in the bottom of eighth,” said Georgia State head coach Greg Frady. “Marc Mimeault is an unbelievable player, and I'm enjoying every last inning that that guy plays for us.
“We got great starting pitching from Will Palmer, we hit a couple of home runs, we manufactured a couple of runs by moving people over, and we played good solid defense for the most part. It was a recipe for success.
“I like what we have going on right now. The tournament is far from over, and we're facing a very good team tomorrow.”
Leading 2-1, Georgia State came up with four runs in the fifth, highlighted by Logan's three-run homer, his seventh of the season and second of the tournament. Derek Simmons led off the inning with a walk, and then Chase Childers reached on an error by the third baseman as he attempted to sacrifice. That's when Logan belted the 1-0 pitch over the left field fence in almost the exact same spot as his solo blast in Wednesday's win over Northeastern.
Matt Van Horn followed with a single to chase UNCW starter Cameron Roth. The Panthers loaded the bases off reliever Tyler McSwain, and McCree's sacrifice fly plated Van Horn to put Georgia State ahead, 6-1.
In the seventh, UNCW cut the deficit to three. Matt Holt started a two-out rally with a single, and then Robbie Monday doubled to the right field corner. Both runners came home on Allen King's double just inside the third base bag to bring the Seahawks within 6-3.
The Seahawks added two more in the eighth to pull within a run. Cody Stanley's two-out single plated Bobby Leeper, and when the ball got by right fielder Matt Van Horn, Ben Thielsen scored all the way from first.
The Panthers struck first with Chase Childers' solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, a blast to right field and the seventh homer of the year for the senior shortstop.
Georgia State extended its lead to 2-0 as Michael McCree's infield single brought home Matt Van Horn, who led off the inning with a single.
Georgia State starter Will Palmer pitched 8-2/3 innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits while striking out nine.
Palmer held the Seahawks hitless through 3-2/3 innings, but after Allen King delivered UNCW's first hit with a solid single to center, Mike Rooney and Bobby Leeper followed with singles, also to centerfield, and King came around to score the Seahawks first run.
UNCW starter Cameron Roth (1-3) pitched into the fifth inning, allowing six runs, four of them earned, on seven hits. He struck out five and walked two.
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