ATLANTA-- The Georgia State baseball team (7-0) remained undefeated Saturday thanks to Drew Shields' heroics in an 8-7 game one walk-off victory and an 11-5 game two win over Western Illinois (0-6) at the Field at Panthersville.
The Panthers are now just one game shy of tying the school record of eight straight wins to start the season, set in 2008.
Game One
The Panthers jumped out to a seven-run lead after scoring one run in the second inning and two each in the third, fifth and sixth. Shane Hammond's single to right field in the bottom of the sixth scored Joey Wood and gave the Panthers a 7-0 cushion.
The Leathernecks would battle back to force extra innings thanks to two runs in the eighth inning and five in the ninth, including RBI doubles by Anthony Kaskadden and John Koszulinski. Panther junior reliever Jake Dyer (1-0) came in to end the visitors' rally by inducing two ground balls with the game tied 7-7.
After the Panthers were retired in order in the bottom of the ninth, Dyer and Leatherneck righty Chris Fuchs (0-1) went pitch-for-pitch, keeping the game level into the 12th.
In the bottom of the inning, Shane Hammond drew a one-out walk for the Panthers and advanced to second when Carter Sackett reached base on an error. Shields then stepped to the plate and laced a pitch to left-center field, scoring Hammond easily and giving the Panthers their first walk-off victory of the season.
"I'm ecstatic," said head coach Greg Frady. "You have to congratulate (Western Illinois), they made a great rally and caught up - that happens in college baseball. The key is to remain calm and remember that we're at home and have the last at-bat."
GSU starter Nick Squeglia tossed six scoreless innings but did not figure in the decision. The junior right-hander allowed just two hits while striking out two and walking one.
Game Two
Western Illinois came out fighting in Saturday's seven-inning second game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in their first at-bat off GSU starter Will Campbell (2-0).
The Panther bats responded in a big way, however, in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Mark Micowski tripled off Leatherneck starter Andrew Zarate (0-2) and was plated by Brett Maxwell's single up the middle. Two batters later, Wood belted his second home run of the year, a two-run shot to left field, giving the Panthers a 3-0 lead. GSU followed with four more runs in the frame, including a two-RBI double by Bryan Condotta and an RBI single by Micowski in his second at-bat in the inning.
After Western Illinois closed the gap to 7-3 in the second inning, the Panthers padded their lead with a four-run fifth. Sackett drove in Ryan Fleming on an RBI double to right-center, then scored on a wild pitch two batters later. Micowski and Brett Maxwell followed with sacrifice flies to give GSU an 11-3 advantage after five.
The Leathernecks again produced in their final at-bat, scoring two runs off Panther reliever Brandon Bast in the top of the seventh. The GSU sophomore then retired three of the next four batters to clinch the 11-5 victory for the Panthers.
Campbell was given the win for the Panthers with six quality innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out three.
"We were challenged today, no doubt, but our boys were equal to the challenge," Frady said. "I really like where we're going and I'm really proud of the team."
The two teams close the series Sunday with game four at 12 p.m.
