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Head Coach Greg Frady
Junior Charley Olson
Sophomore Brandon Williams
ATLANTA - Junior Charley Olson pitched a complete game and sophomore Brandon Williams broke a tie game in the seventh with a two-run home run to give the Georgia State baseball team a 5-3 win over William & Mary on Saturday afternoon. The win gave the Panthers hope of capturing its first regular season conference championship heading into Sunday's final day of the regular season.
Olson (5-4) allowed just six hits and three runs, striking out five and walking just one for the Panthers third complete game of the year. Olson's performance came less than 24 hours after Aidan Francis pitched a no-hitter into the eighth inning on Friday against the Tribe.
Williams two-run home run in the seventh was his ninth of the year. The sophomore collected his 70th and 71st RBIs of the season, setting a new school record. Williams, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and three RBIs, leads the CAA and broke the record of Jay Langston set during the 1999 year.
With the win, Georgia State improved to 33-21-1 overall and 16-6-1 in CAA action. William & Mary fell to 27-23 overall, 10-13 in conference. If VCU wins on Saturday afternoon against James Madison in Richmond, Va. and the Panthers win on Sunday, State will claim its first regular season championship, a year after winning its first conference tournament championship.
Georgia State improved to 22-6 at home this season, including a 10-1 mark in conference games. If State were to sweep, it would tie for the most home wins in a single year, set during the 2008 season. The Panthers have already clinched the best home winning percentage in school history entering this weekend's action.
"I was very impressed with Charley Olson's performance on the mound today," commented head coach Greg Frady. "Charley has been a great performer for us all year. He pitches to his best ability every time he is on the mound and we always have confidence when we see him out there."
Tadd Bower doubled down the right field line to lead off the fifth inning for the Tribe. Two batters later, Ryan Williams doubled, scoring Bower to give the Tribe a 1-0 lead.
The Panthers responded in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Carl Moniz led off the inning with a single and Bradley Logan followed with a walk, moving him into second place on the school's all-time walks list with 99.
A batter later, junior Ryan Fleming singled to left, scoring Moniz to tie the game. Williams followed with a single through the left side, scoring Logan to give the Panthers a 2-1 lead. Junior Rob Lind added a sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Fleming to give the Panthers a two run lead.
Fleming finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored.
Jonathan Slattery tied the game for the Tribe in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run, his fourth of the year, before Williams provided the heroics in the bottom half of the inning.
John Farrell (3-3) took the loss for the Tribe, pitching 2.2 inning of relief. Farrell allowed two hits and two runs, while striking out two.
William & Mary starter Logan Billbrough lasted 5.1 innings, giving up nine hits, but only three runs. Billbrough struck out five and walked four.
Moniz, who provided the Panthers with the walk-off hit on Friday night, went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.
The two teams will return to the field on Sunday afternoon for senior day. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. as Ryan Moore takes to the mound for the Panthers in the final regular season game of the season.
It will also be Little League Day at the field. All players in their uniforms will receive free admission to the ballpark.
Tickets for the Panthers final home game 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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