PHOTO COURTESY OF A-STATE ATHLETIC

Tomlinson Stadium became a home run derby as the Red Wolves baseball team swept the Georgia State Panthers in a weekend series.

The series was defined by power hitting. The Panthers and Red Wolves bashed a combined 14 home runs over three games. While Georgia State managed to hit more dingers than the Red Wolves, it was A-State’s pitching and defense that gave them the edge in this series.

The Panthers entered the series coming off a win over West Georgia last Tuesday. Georgia State has made a name for themselves thanks to a strong, disciplined group of sluggers. The Panthers currently ranked eighth in the nation in walks and fourteenth in the country in home runs.

The Red Wolves also won their mid-week game against the Memphis Tigers. A-State boasts a pitching staff ranked in the top 50 nationally, a complete about-face from a season ago. 

Game 1 of the series saw the Red Wolves shut out the Panthers until the fifth inning. By that point, A-State had taken a 5-0 lead over Georgia State. Center fielder Ashton Quiller was the hero of the game. Quiller went 3 for 5 from the plate, including his first home run of the season with a solo shot to left field. Designated hitter Jeremiah Cabuyaban made his first starting lineup appearance in a while, hitting the game’s second and last home run with a two-run blast to left field. The Red Wolves won this game 6-4.

Pitcher Gavin Galy got the start and the win for A-State. Galy pitched 5.1 innings with 2 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 hit and 1 earned run. Galy’s record moved to 2-1 with the win. Panthers pitcher Robert Cole was stuck with the loss, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing 5 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.

Game 2 came down to the wire, with the score being tied 4-4 until the bottom of the eighth inning. A total of five home runs were hit in this game, with Georgia State hitting three solo bombs. Left fielder Jake Henry Williams went 2 for 3 with 2 home runs. Both bombs were two-run home runs. The Red Wolves managed to pull out the tight victory with a score of 6-5.

Pitcher Tyler Weimer got the start for A-State. Weimer pitched 3.2 innings with 3 strikeouts, 2 walks, 1 earned run and 2 hits allowed. Relieving pitcher Brett Foss pitched particularly well in his time on the mound, striking out 3 of the 6 Panthers batters he faced. Reliever Cooper Garrison was credited with the win, moving his record to 2-2. The win secured a series victory for the Red Wolves.

A-State secured the sweep in a Game 3 blowout victory. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first with a home run from their first baseman William Maginnis, but the Red Wolves responded with a 3-run blast to right from shortstop Patrick Engskov. The Red Wolves had a massive offensive performance in the second inning, with Quiller, first baseman Wil French, right fielder Cross Jumper, and second baseman Cason Campbell all recording an RBI. Georgia State hit two solo homers in the third inning, and Campbell hit a solo shot in the fourth. Consistent hitting from Engskov, Campbell and French ensured the Red Wolves a 13-4 victory over the Panthers and a full sweep.

The Red Wolves will travel to Little Rock to take on the Trojans on Tuesday. With the sweep, A-State’s record moves to 21-20. They are currently in fifth place in the Sun Belt Conference.

Categories: Sports