Audio
Head Coach Greg Frady
Junior Aaron Schmitz
Junior Will Campbell
Junior Jonathan Kolowich
ATLANTA - Behind four home runs and 18 hits, the Georgia State baseball team scored a 23-1 win over Alabama State on Wednesday afternoon at the Field at Panthersville. Junior Will Campbell made his first collegiate start, going 5.0 innings and allowing just four hits to earn the win.
The Panthers four home runs gave the team 76 on the season, just one shy of the school record set during the 2000 season. Entering the week, Georgia State led the NCAA in batting average and runs scored.
With the win, Georgia State improved to 24-17-1 on the season. State is 10-2-1 over its last 13 games entering this weekend's key series against third-place George Mason.
By scoring 23 runs, the Panthers set a new single season school record, surpassing last year's total of 485 runs in a season. With 14 games remaining, Georgia State has already scored 506 runs.
Alabama State lost its eighth straight to fall to 10-17 on the season.
Campbell (1-0) made 33 relief appearances before his first collegiate start. The Douglasville, Ga. native struck out six and faced just two over his minimum number of 15 batters.
"I am so happy for Will," commented head coach Greg Frady after the game. "He has had some ups and downs this season, but today, I felt as though he really pitched with a purpose, an aggressive behavior and confidence. That is the Will Campbell that we all know. He is a guy to be counted on and an effective pitcher. It was good to see a smile on his face."
The Panthers scored in every inning but the third, plating seven runs in the sixth, as well as six in the first and the fifth.
Junior Jonathan Kolowich helped lead the offense, going 3-for-5 with a three-run home run, four runs scored and a three RBIs.
Junior Aaron Schmitz belted a grand slam and went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored, making his first start behind the plate for the Panthers.
Senior Carl Moniz also crossed the plate four times, going 3-for-3 at with three RBIs and his eighth home run of the season.
Junior Ryan Fleming belted his team-high 13th home run of the season, finishing 1-for-1 at the plate with two walks, three runs scored and two RBIs. Fleming is now tied for the CAA lead in home runs, while leading the conference in slugging percentage.
Redshirt-sophomore Joey Wood batted lead-off and returned to the outfield for the first time this season, going 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBIs. Wood had been relegated to the designated hitter roll since an injury last year.
Sophomore Brandon Williams also went 2-for-4 at the plate, scoring one and driving in a pair. Williams leads the team with 60 RBIs and is just 10 shy of the school record of 70 set by Jay Langston during the 1999 season.
Junior Mark Micowski entered the game as a pinch-hitter and went 1-for-1 with a walk and a run scored. The Haddam, Conn. native collected his 71st hit of the year and is now just 14 shy of teammate Bradley Logan's school-record of 85 set during the 2008 campaign.
Freshman Michael Moch and sophomores Ben Marshall and Justin Malone pitched the final two innings, now allowing a hit to the Hornets.
Jordan Mims (0-1) took the loss for Alabama State, going 4.0 innings, allowing 10 hits and 10 runs.
Reginald Mitchell led the Hornets at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI.
The Panthers will return to CAA action beginning on Friday night, facing George Mason at 6 p.m. The game will air live on WRAS-FM 88.5 beginning with the Panther Pregame Show at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets for that game, as well as all remaining home games can be purchased by calling 1-866-GA-STATE or by visiting GeorgiaStateSports.com. Live stats will be provided via GeorgiaStateSports.com.
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