Clarksville, Tenn. - The Georgia State baseball team split a pair of games on Saturday afternoon at the Governors Challenge at Austin Peay. The Panthers earned a 14-4 victory over Austin Peay, before falling to Centenary 17-13 in the nightcap.
The Panthers belted 10 home runs in the two games, upping their season total to 34 thru 19 games.
Georgia State has won 10 of its last 13 games and stand 10-9 on the season. With the loss in the opener, Austin Peay dropped to 9-8 on the season. Centenary improved to 7-7 and will play Austin Peay two more times in the tournament.
The Panthers belted back-to-back-to-back home runs in the top of the first to quickly take a 4-0 lead in game one. With two outs, redshirt-sophomore Joey Wood belted a solo home run over the center field wall, his fifth of the season. Senior Bradley Logan followed with a shot over the left field wall, his team-leading seventh of the year.
Junior Ryan Fleming followed with his first of two home runs in the game, a solo blast to right field. He hit a second home run in the top of the sixth. Junior Carter Sackett added an RBI single up the middle, scoring sophomore Brandon Williams from third as the Panthers quickly took a four-run advantage.
Fleming finished the game 2-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
Austin Peay cut the deficit to three when Trey Lucas belted a home run over the center field wall with one out in the bottom of the second.
Junior Rob Lind added to the lead by belting a three-run home run, his second of the season, to give the Panthers a 7-1 lead after three innings.
Lind finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
The Panthers added one more in the top of the fourth, two more in the top of the fifth and three more in the top of the sixth, extending their lead to 13-2.
Georgia State chased Austin Peay starter Ricky Marshall (3-2) after 4.0 innings. Marshall allowed seven hits and 10 runs, seven of which were earned, walking six and striking out five.
Junior Aidan Francis (2-1) earned the win after going 6.0 innings, allowing just seven hits and two runs, while striking out three.
He gave way to sophomore Ben Marshall who pitched two perfect innings of relief. Junior Zach Chastain pitched the ninth, striking out two.
Junior Aaron Schmitz came in to pinch hit in the top of the ninth and belted his first career home run over the right field wall to start the inning.
Junior Mark Micowski went 3-for-6 at the plate with two RBIs.
In game two, Georgia State had back-to-back five run innings in the fourth and fifth, but the Gents scored nine times in the bottom of the fifth and four more in the bottom of the sixth to rebound and .
Joey Wood led the Panthers at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two runs scored.
Mark Micowski, Jonathan Kolowich, and Rob Lind also hit home runs for the Panthers.
Sophomore Brandon Williams and Lind each added three hits, while senior Carl Moniz went 2-for-4 at the plate.
Neither starting pitcher factored in to the decision as senior Ryan Moore went 4.0 innings, allowing six hits and eight runs, seven of which were earned.
Freshman Michael Moch (1-1) earned his first loss, not recording an out, allowing three runs.
Georgia State, which went 4-3 on its season-long seven-game road trip, will return home for a pair of midweek games beginning on Tuesday. The Panthers will face Alabama State for the first of two games this season on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
On Wednesday, the Panthers will face Kennesaw State at 6 p.m. at The Field at Panthersville. That contest will air live on WRAS-FM 88.5 with Dave Cohen calling the game. Panther Sports Talk will begin at 5:30 p.m. for the first home broadcast of the season.
Tickets for both home games against Alabama State and Kennesaw State can be purchased by visiting the box office, by calling 1-866-GA-STATE or visiting any Ticketmaster location.
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