ATLANTA –
Michael Maginnis tied a GSU record for most stolen bases in a single game, and Georgia State broke a 7-7 tie with three runs in the seventh inning to win 10-7 over Alabama State at the GSU Baseball Complex on Tuesday night.
A junior outfielder, Maginnis recorded five stolen bases, which equals the program record set by Henry Reese on March 8, 1985 against Samford. He stole second and third in the fourth inning, and again in the seventh before tying the program record when he stole home on a double-steal with his brother, William Maginnis, in the same inning.
Georgia State (17-9) tallied nine stolen bases, which ranks fourth in program history for a single-game.
Equally impressive at the plate,
Michael Maginnis went 3-for-4 with two RBI's, including a solo home run in the second inning.
Cole Griffith went 2-for-4, driving in two runs each on a double in the first inning and a two-run homer in the sixth. Their home runs bring Georgia State's season-total to 47 on the year. The Panthers entered the game ranked first in the Sun Belt and tied for ninth nationally in total home runs.
Kaleb Freeman and
CJ Blackwell also tallied two hits each for GSU. Freeman drove in one run and recorded two stolen bases in the seventh inning.
With the score tied 7-7,
Jae Williams hit a leadoff infield single down the third base line, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and broke the deadlock on an RBI single by
Kaleb Freeman, who would then steal second and third and score on a base-hit by
Michael Maginnis to make it 9-7 Panthers.
Maginnis would then steal second and third himself, and after two strikeouts, Alabama State (10-16) put his brother William on with an intentional walk, setting up their brotherly double-steal. William tripped and face-planted as he started to steal second, but the gaffe created a brief hesitation from the Hornets' pitcher that allowed Michael to scamper home and beat the throw from the pitcher to the plate, and William recovered to steal second, completing the double-steal to make it 10-7 Panthers.
Jake Crews (1-1) earned his first collegiate win with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts.
Virgil Heath came on to pitch in the ninth inning with Georgia State up 10-7 and pitched a scoreless, hitless inning to earn his first collegiate save.
Nick Holbrook made his first collegiate start and recorded six strikeouts in 4.2 innings, both career-highs, but did not factor into the decision.
Luke Parmentier went 3-for-3 with two RBI's, and Wilbert Espinal hit a two-run home run in the third inning to lead the Hornets at the plate.
Georgia State will face Mercer on Wednesday, March 26 at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon, Georgia. The Panthers' next home game is on Friday, March 28 for Game One of this weekend's series against in-state rival Georgia Southern. Both games start at 6 p.m.
