FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE:
ATLANTA – Led by a trio of home runs, the Georgia State baseball team earned a 10-1 upset win over #3 Georgia Tech on Tuesday night at Russ Chandler Stadium. The win over the third ranked Yellow Jackets was the highest ranked opponent that the Panthers have defeated in the history of the program.
“We look at every game as a big game and a big win,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “To come over here to Georgia Tech and get a win like this against a great organization and such a well run club is a special thing. Tonight was also the first night that we played on television in a number of years, so that just adds to an already great evening of baseball for our team.”
The Panthers got on the board first in the second inning as senior Matt Van Horn singled toward first base and was able to beat out the throw. After redshirt freshman Joey Wood singled to center, advancing Van Horn to second, freshman Justin Malone followed with another singled to center, scoring Van Horn and give State a 1-0 advantage.
Van Horn finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scoring, upping his batting average to .408 on the season.
Georgia State would quickly get two runners on in the top of the third as senior Derek Simmons walked and junior Carl Moniz reached on an error by the left fielder. Senior Bradley Logan followed by hammering his first home run of the season over the left field wall, giving State a 4-0 lead.
“I have been off to kind of a slow start this year,” commented Logan. “As of late, I feel as though I have had some really good at bats and when he threw a change-up, I was just able to turn on it and help us get things going.”
Logan, a Brooks Wallace Watch List member, finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
Senior Marc Mimeault continued the inning with a single to left field.
Van Horn collected his second hit of the evening, doubling down the right field line, advancing Mimeault to third. Mimeault would score when freshman Brandon Williams hit a sacrifice fly to center, giving State a five run advantage.
Mimeault, who had caught 34 innings behind the plate over the weekend at William & Mary, finished with a pair of hits, scoring twice and driving in a pair.
Yellow Jacket starter Jed Bradley was pulled after 3.0 innings, allowing six hits, five runs, three of which were earned, walking two and striking out four.
Simmons would add to the Panther lead in the top of the fourth, hitting his second home run of the season as State took a 6-0 lead.
The Yellow Jackets scored their lone run in the bottom of the fourth as Jeff Rowland reached on a fielders choice, scoring Luke Murton.
State came right back in the top of the fifth, taking a 7-1 lead as Williams reached on error by the shortstop. He would later steal second and advance to third on an error by the second baseman. Senior Nick Hogan would single home Williams as the Panthers took a six run lead.
Starter John Locklear (4-1) would be relieved by senior Will Palmer after five innings, allowing just four hits and one run in the win.
“Our offense did a great job tonight getting us some early runs,” commented Locklear. “It makes it a lot easier to pitch like that when you can just pound the strike zone and know that your defense is going to do a great job behind you.”
Moniz would hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth as the Panthers got on the board again, scoring Hogan. Mimeault followed with a two-run home run, his fourth of the season, giving the Panthers a nine-run victory.
