The Georgia State baseball team fell to USC Upstate 9-7 on Tuesday afternoon at The Field at Panthersville. Despite Bradley Logan's first home run of the season, the Panthers could not hold on to an early four run lead.
With the loss, Georgia State dropped to 0-4 on the season. USC Upstate improved to 2-2 on the season.
"I'm disappointed," stated head coach Greg Frady. "We are just not playing baseball at a consistent level right now. We have too many base-running mistakes, missing signs, all things that contribute to poor performance. The season is young and we will work on these things and get better. We have a talented group of players, but we are going to have to play better collectively as a team."
Junior Mark Micowski led off the game by reaching base for the third time in four games and scored as sophomore Brandon Williams doubled deep to right center to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Senior Bradley Logan followed with a two-run home run, his first of the season, giving Georgia State a 3-0 lead. The Panthers scored one more in the first as junior Carter Sackett doubled to left center, scoring Jonathan Kolowich, who had walked earlier in the inning.
State chased Spartan starting pitcher Barrett Stover after just 1.0 inning. Stover allowed three hits, four runs, all earned, walking two.
The Spartans struck back with two in the top of the second, as Tyler Cook hit a two-run home run to cut the lead to two.
Three costly errors in the top of the fourth allowed Upstate to score three runs and take a 5-4 lead.
The Panthers tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a pair of errors by the Spartans. Junior Rob Lind scored on a Bryan Condotta groundout to plate the run.
State regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth, when junior Ryan Fleming singled home Williams.
Frady turned it over to the bullpen in the sixth. Sophomore Ben Marshall threw a career-high 5.0 innings, allowing five hits, five runs, only four of which were earned, while striking out two.
Unfortunately, the lead did not last long as Jimmy Tanner hit a grand slam off of junior Zach Chastain (0-1) in the top of the sixth, giving the Spartans a 9-6 lead.
Chastain allowed three hits and four runs, striking out one and taking the loss.
Sophomore Justin Malone shut down Upstate over the final three innings, but State could only manufacture one final run in the bottom of the ninth and never threatened.
Malone allowed just one hit over the final three, striking out two.
Micowski and Williams each finished the game with two hits a piece. Logan's home run was the first of the season for the Panthers.
Chris Knauff (1-0) earned the win in relief for Upstate. Knauff went 4.0 innings, allowing just three hits and two runs, one of which was earned.
Tyler Oliver pitched 4.0 innings of relief for the save. Oliver allowed just one hit and one run, striking out five over the final four innings.
The Panthers are scheduled to return action on Wednesday at 4 p.m. as they travel to Spartanburg, S.C. to face the Spartans. Live stats and an internet only broadcast via www.ASun.tv will be available for the game.
Notes: Prior to the start of the game, the Panthers unveiled their 2009 CAA Championship and 2009 NCAA Regional banners on the outfield wall. Former Panther Derek Simmons threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
