ATLANTA - After the Panthers rallied with sixth runs in the eighth inning to take the lead, Northeastern scored three in the top of the ninth to earn a 9-7 win over the Georgia State baseball team on Saturday afternoon at the Field at Panthersville.
Senior Carl Moniz belted a three-run eighth inning home run to highlight a six-run inning to give the Panthers their first lead of the game, but it was the Huskies that provided a pair a ninth inning triples to get the win.
Moniz' home run was the Panthers 78th of the season and set a new single-season school record. The Laval, Quebec native belted his ninth home run of the year, giving the Panthers six players with at least eight home runs this year. He finished the game 2-for-5 at the plate.
Junior Mark Micowski went 3-for-5 at the plate, collecting his 87th hit of the season, establishing a new school single-season hits record. The Haddam, Conn. native broke the record of 85 set by teammate Bradley Logan during the 2008 season.
Georgia State dropped to 30-20-1 overall and 13-6-1 in the CAA. It was just the sixth home loss in 24 games at home this season and the first in CAA action. Northeastern improved to 12-27 overall and 5-15 in conference.
For the second game in a row, Northeastern struck first, loading the bases in the top of the first. Georgia State starter Charley Olson was able to get out of the jam, allowing just one run when Frank Compagnone grounded into a double play, scoring Matt Miller to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
The Huskies increased their lead in the top of the third when Tony DiCesare doubled to left center, scoring Alan Pastryrnak and Miller to put Northeastern ahead 3-0.
Brendan Stokes singled home Jon Leroux in the top of the fourth, increasing the Huskies lead to four. A batter later, Pete Castoldi doubled down the left field line, scoring Stokes to give Northeastern a 5-0 lead.
The Panthers responded with one in the bottom half of the inning. Redshirt-sophomore Joey Wood led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced all the way to third on an errant throw by pitcher Charly Bashara. A batter later, senior Bradley Logan grounded out, scoring Wood to cut the deficit to four runs.
Tony DiCesare and Frank Compagnone added back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh, the second scoring DeCesare to give the Huskies a 6-1 lead.
Olson pitched 7.0 innings for the Panthers, but did not factor into the decision. The native of Largo, Fla. allowed 10 hits and six runs, striking out 10 and walking just three.
Bashara also did not factor into the decision, pitching 7.1 innings, allowing 10 hits and seven runs, six of which were earned. He struck out seven and walked just two, making 122 pitches.
State took its first lead of the game with six runs in the bottom of the eighth. Junior Jonathan Kolowich doubled down the left field line, scoring Justin Malone to cut the deficit to four.
A batter later, Logan belted a deep sacrifice fly to center, scoring Micowski to cut the Huskies lead to 6-3.
Moniz' three-run home run followed to tie the game and 6-6.
Two batters later, junior Rob Lind singled home sophomore Brandon Williams to give the Panthers a 7-6 lead.
Williams finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate, while Joey Wood scored a pair of runs.
Junior Jeremy Gazerro came in to pitch the ninth and walked Miller and DiCesare to give Northeastern two runners on with one out. Campangnone followed with a bases clearing triple to give the Huskies an 8-7 lead. John Puttress followed with a triple to left center as Micowski and Kolowich collided in the outfield, putting the Huskies ahead by two.
The Panthers attempted to rally in the ninth and had two runners on before Moniz popped up deep to right to end the game.
Gazerro (5-3) earned the loss, while Chris Carmain (1-2) picked up his first win of the season after pitching 1.2 innings and allowing just two hits.
Compagnone led the Huskies at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs.
The two teams will return to the field for the series finale on Sunday afternoon. As a reminder to fans, the game will now start at noon after originally being scheduled for 1 p.m.
Tickets for the Panthers remaining four home games can be purchased by calling 1-866-GA-STATE or by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com. Live stats of all Panther games are provided via GeorgiaStateSports.com.
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