ATLANTA, GA --Â Georgia State closed the regular season with a comeback win and punched its ticket to the Sun Belt Tournament, rallying past App State 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the GSU Baseball Complex.
The Panthers finish the regular season 26-28 overall and 14-16 in Sun Belt play, taking the final two games of the series against App State.
After three scoreless innings, App State took the lead in the fourth on a two-run home run from Jalen Seward. Georgia State started its comeback in the fifth when Cole Griffith launched a solo home run to center field, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Panthers tied the game in the seventh inning. Austin Killingsworth singled to start the frame and stole second. After Brandon Davis reached on an error, Griffith laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought Killingsworth home to even the score at 2-2.
Georgia State pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth. John Beverley reached on a wild pitch after a strikeout and moved to third on a stolen base and throwing error. After Wills Maginnis was intentionally walked and stole second, Hunter Carlson executed a sacrifice bunt to score Beverley and give the Panthers a 3-2 lead.
The pitching staff made the lead hold. Cole Roberts opened the game with 2.0 scoreless innings, striking out two. Joshua Evans followed with 4.1 innings, allowing two runs while keeping the Panthers within reach. Nicholas Holbrook earned the win in relief, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings, and Brian Crooms worked a clean ninth inning to record his second save of the season.
Griffith drove in two of Georgia State's three runs, including his solo home run in the fifth. Adam Haber doubled, Killingsworth singled and scored, and Austin Sellers added a hit for the Panthers.
With the win, Georgia State qualified for the Sun Belt Tournament. The Panthers' opponent and game time are still to be determined.
