ATLANTA, GA --Â Georgia State used a two-run sixth inning and a strong pitching effort from Michael Caruso and Brian Crooms to even the series with a 4-2 win over App State on Friday night at the GSU Baseball Complex.
The Panthers improve to 25-28 overall and 13-16 in Sun Belt play, while App State falls to 30-21 and 17-12 in conference play.
Georgia State struck first in the opening inning when Wills Maginnis launched a solo home run to center field, giving the Panthers an early 1-0 lead.
App State answered in the third inning, scoring twice to take a 2-1 advantage. Jalen Seward tied the game with an RBI single before Riley Luft followed with an RBI double to put the Mountaineers in front.
Caruso settled in after the third inning and kept Georgia State within striking distance. The right-hander worked through six innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out 10.
The Panthers broke through in the sixth inning. Hunter Carlson doubled to right field and came around to score on an RBI single from Brandon Davis, tying the game at 2-2. After Davis advanced on a passed ball, Adam Haber delivered an RBI single to right field to give Georgia State a 3-2 lead.
Georgia State added an insurance run in the eighth inning. Carlson singled to center and moved to second when Wesley Bass worked a walk. After Carlson advanced to third, Haber came through again with an RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to 4-2.
Crooms took over in the seventh and closed out the win, tossing three scoreless innings while allowing two hits and striking out one to earn his first save of the season.
Maginnis, Carlson, and Haber each recorded two hits for the Panthers. Maginnis homered and doubled, Carlson scored twice, and Haber drove in two runs.
Georgia State and App State will close the regular season Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at the GSU Baseball Complex.
