ATLANTA – Kaleb Freeman recorded three hits to help Georgia State back a strong outing from Ross Norman and win their fourth straight game 9-3 over UT-Martin at the GSU Baseball Complex on Friday afternoon.

The win gives Georgia State (4-0) their fourth straight win to open the season and their second 4-0 start under head coach Brad Stromdahl after opening the 2022 season with a four-game sweep of Purdue-Fort Wayne. 

A senior from Flowery Branch, Ga., Freeman went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two walks and 3 RBI's, including two-run home run in the fifth inning.  The transfer from Auburn fell a triple shy of hitting for the cycle and has recorded a hit in all four games this season, bringing his average to .538 on the year.

Ross Norman (1-0) enjoyed his best start in Panther blue, setting new career-highs with six strikeouts in 7.0 innings while allowing just two runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks to earn his first collegiate win.

Michael Maginnis was also solid at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one walk and one run scored.

GSU trailed 2-0 in the second when William Maginnis hit a leadoff single up the middle and reached third on a double by Colin Hynek before scoring on a RBI-groundout by Carter Bailey.  Then, after a flyout to center field, Hynek advanced to third on a wild pitch and Jae Williams drew a walk before Freeman hit a shallow fly-ball to left field on a hit-and-run to score Hynek and tie the game.

The next inning, the Panthers would capitalize on three walks by UT Martin starter Brandon King (0-1) to load the bases for Nick Garagozzo, who hit a first pitch fly ball that dropped in front of the left fielder to score two runs and give the Panthers a 4-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Kaleb Freemen extended the Panther lead in the fourth when he drew a walk, advanced to second on a base-hit by Michael Maginnnis, and scored on a base-hit through the left side by Cole Griffith.  A wild pitch moved Maginnis to third and Griffith to second before Jesse Donohoe hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Maginnis and make it 6-2.

Freeman would extend the Panther lead again in the fifth with his two-run shot over the wall in right center to make it 8-2 before William Maginnis drew a one-out walk in the sixth, advanced to third on his first collegiate stolen base and errant throw on the play by the catcher, and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Colin Hynek to make it 9-2

UT Martin (2-2) managed one run on a bases-loaded infield single in the eighth but would get no closer.  The Skyhawks had another chance to score in the ninth when they drew two walks with no outs, but Ryan Lamar retired the next three batters he faced to shut the door with a scoreless frame.
 
Game Two of this weekend's series between Georgia State and UT Martin is on Saturday, February 22 at the GSU Baseball Complex.  First pitch is at 2 p.m.