Towson, Md. - It was déjà vu for the Georgia State baseball team as Towson rallied from ten runs down to take an extra inning affair on Saturday afternoon at Schuerholtz Park, 19-18. The Panthers belted six home runs, but a hit by pitch in the bottom of the tenth proved to be the difference.
Georgia State dropped its third straight game to fall to 14-13 overall, 2-3 in the CAA. Towson won its second straight to improve to 7-20 overall and 4-4 in the conference.
The Panthers used a 10-run fifth inning, belting three home runs in the inning, along with a pair of runs in the sixth and one in the seventh to take a 15-5 lead going to the bottom of the seventh.
However, for the second day in a row, the Tigers had a big inning for themselves, scoring eight in the bottom of the seventh and five in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 18-18 to send it to extra innings.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, junior Jeremy Gazerro (2-2) hit Austin Harclerode to plate Kevin Collins with the winning run.
Gazerro took the loss after going 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and three walks, along with the winning run.
Drew Permison (2-2) allowed just one walk in the tenth, while striking out two for the win in a game that took four hours and 23 minutes to complete.
It appeared as though the Panthers were on their way to an easy victory as the offense returned to its form during the month of March.
Sophomore Brandon Williams went 2-for-6 at the plate with two home runs, two runs scored and a team-high five RBIs.
Junior Rob Lind added a pair of home runs as well, going 4-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and four RBIs.
Senior Bradley Logan, who had his 41-game streak of reaching safely come to an end on Friday, blasted his eighth home run of the year, going 2-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored.
Junior Ryan Fleming also homered, his team-high 11th of the season, scoring three times. Fleming leads the CAA and is among the top 15 in the NCAA in home runs after belting two on Friday night against the Tigers.
Junior Mark Micowski added three hits, raising his batting average to a team-high .434 on the year. He is one of five Georgia State starters batting over .400 this year.
Junior Shane Hammond started behind the plate and went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
Senior Carl Moniz, redshirt-sophomore Joey Wood and junior Jonathan Kolowich each added two hits as well.
Georgia State starter Charley Olson went 6.1 innings, allowing 13 hits and eight runs, but did not factor into the decision.
The Panther bullpen allowed 11 runs over the final four innings.
Towson used eight pitchers, including starter Nate Curd who went 4.1 innings, allowing 10 hits and eight runs, but too, did not factor into the decision.
Collins led the Tigers at the plate, going 5-for-6 with four runs scored and four RBIs.
The two teams will return to the diamond for the series finale on Sunday 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.
