Towson, Md. - Despite a pair of home runs by junior Ryan Fleming, Towson used a seven-run eighth inning to rally and defeat the Georgia State baseball team 14-8 on Friday afternoon at Schuerholtz Park. Fleming's two home runs increased his total to 10 on the season, which leads the CAA and is among the top 15 in the NCAA.
Georgia State dropped its second game in a row to fall to 14-12 overall, 2-2 in the CAA. Towson, playing just its third home game of the year, improved to 6-20 with the win and 3-4 in conference.
Fleming went 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs. He leads the team with a .440 batting average and 43 RBIs in 26 games played this year.
Towson, which had a pair of early inning leads, trailed by one entering the bottom of the eighth when the normally reliable Georgia State bullpen gave way to seven runs.
After walking Towson's Austin Harclerode, junior Aidan Francis was relieved by sophomore closer Justin Malone. Malone (2-1), who was making his team-leading 12th appearance, was only able to get one out and recorded his first career loss, giving up six runs. The Panthers had two costly errors in the inning, as only three of Malone six runs were earned.
Towson's Drew Permison (1-2) pitched the eighth inning, allowing just two walks to earn the win. Sean Bertrand closed out the game allowing one hit in the ninth.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the second, Fleming belted his ninth home run of the season over the right-center field wall to tie the game.
Towson's Ben Winter doubled to right in the bottom half of the inning to put the Tigers back ahead, 3-1. He later scored on a Kevin Collins single up the middle to put Towson ahead by three.
The Panthers bats got things going in the top of the fourth as Fleming led off the inning with a double and scored to cut the deficit to two on sophomore Brandon Williams single to right.
Juniors Rob Lind and Carter Sackett followed with a pair of singles, the later scoring Williams, cutting Towson's lead to 4-3.
Redshirt-junior Brett Maxwell used a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Lind and tie the game for the second time.
Williams belted his second home run of the season in the top of the fifth to start a two-out rally and put the Panthers ahead, 5-4.
Mike Bronakoski relieved Towson starter Michael Trionfro in the middle of the fifth. Trionfro last 4.2 innings and did not factor into the decision after allowing eight hits and six runs, all of which were earned. He walked three while striking out one.
Later in the inning, senior Carl Moniz singled to left, scoring Lind, who had previously singled, to give State a 6-4 lead.
Junior David Buchanan, the reigning CAA Pitcher of the Week came out of the game after 5.1 innings after being hit by a ground ball back to the mound. The Peachtree City, Ga. native allowed eight hits, giving up six runs and walking two, while striking out six.
Towson's Chris Wychock belted his fourth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth, to cut the deficit back to one run.
Maxwell led off the top of the sixth with a triple to center and scored on a wild pitch by Bronakoski. With two outs, Fleming belted his second home run of the game on a 2-2 pitch over down the right field line.
Senior Bradley Logan's stretch of reaching base safely in 41 straight games came to an end after going 0-for-5 at the plate.
Francis, who relieved Buchanan, went 1.2 innings and allowed just two hits, while striking out four, before giving way to Malone.
Francis gave up a double to Collins, scoring Natoli and Wyman in the bottom of the sixth as the Tigers cut the Panthers lead to 8-7.
Kevin Collins led Towson at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
The two teams will return to the diamond on Saturday at 1 p.m. Junior Charley Olson will take to the mound for the Panthers. The series finale is set for Sunday, also at 1 p.m. Senior Ryan Moore is scheduled to make the start for State.
Live stats for all games this weekend can be found by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com.
The Panthers will return home again next weekend to face Hofstra, beginning on Friday night. Tickets for all home games can be purchased by calling 1-866-GA-STATE. Fans can also log on to the web at GeorgiaStateSports.com or visit any Ticketmaster location to purchase tickets.
