Las Cruces, N.M. - A long distance travel west could not halt the momentum of the Georgia State baseball team which picked up its seventh straight win on Friday night with a 13-2 victory over New Mexico State. Junior David Buchanan pitched six innings of shutout ball for his second win of the season.
Every Panther starter recorded at least one hit, while junior Carter Sackett went 3-for-5 at the plate and belted his first home run of the season.
Georgia State is averaging 20.7 runs per game during its winning streak, as the Panthers improved to 7-6 on the season. New Mexico State fell to 10-8, dropping their second straight contest.
The Panthers got on board quickly in the top of the first when redshirt-sophomore Joey Wood singled to left, scoring junior Mark Micowski, who had led off the game with a walk.
Georgia State scored again in the top of the second as Micowski's sacrifice fly to deep center scored junior Rob Lind, giving the Panthers a two-run lead.
Micowski, who was named the NCBWA National Player of the Week on Tuesday, continued his hot play at the plate, singling to right in the top of the fourth to score Sackett, giving the Buchanan all the run support he would need.
Senior Carl Moniz later scored in the inning, as the Panthers went ahead 4-0. Moniz went 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs scored in the victory.
Buchanan (2-1) cruised on the mound, retiring 12 straight Aggies at one point, before being relieved in the top of the seventh.
The Peachtree City, Ga. native went 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits and striking out eight for his second consecutive win.
Sackett belted his home run in the top of the fifth, leading the Panthers to a three-run inning and a 7-0 lead.
Junior Bradley Logan gave State an eight-run cushion with a single in the top of the sixth, his second hit of the game, scoring redshirt-junior Brett Maxwell.
New Mexico State scored its lone two runs in the bottom of the seventh off sophomore Nick Squeglia, before giving way to Justin Malone to finish the game for the Panthers.
Malone extended his school record scoreless inning streak to 20.0 straight innings dating back to April 11th of last season. The sophomore was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List prior to the start of the season.
Georgia State scored four more times in the top of the ninth to close out the game.
Thomas Brendel (1-1) took the loss for the Aggies. Brendel went 4.2 innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs, all of which were earned.
The three Georgia State pitchers held the Aggies to just five hits on the night, a week to the day after New Mexico State scored 33 runs in a game.
The two clubs will continue their series on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. before closing out the series on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. Junior Aidan Francis (1-1) will take to the mound on Saturday afternoon.
Live stats of all games this weekend can be found via GeorgiaStateSports.com. Tickets for the next home game on March 23rd against Alabama State can be purchased by visiting the box office, by calling 1-866-GA-STATE or visiting any Ticketmaster location.
