Air Cold, Bats Hot As Panthers Walk Off vs Bearcats

Players celebrate Baseball’s first win of the Brad Stromdahl era. Photo credit: Dale Zanine Photography / GSU Sports Communications

The chilly temperature and slow start weren’t enough to stop the Panthers, who took 10 innings and almost four hours to dispatch Cincinnati 9-8.
The Bearcats jumped out on top with a run in the top of the first, with the Panthers scoring a run of their own in the second frame. Cincinnati led off the top of the third with a home run from outfielder Paul Komistek, and took advantage of two Panther errors to gain a 5-1 lead, knocking out Georgia State starter Seth Clark in the process.

Georgia State would respond with two runs of their own in their half of the third, with Elian Merejo blasting a 2 run homer to get GSU within 2.
The pinstriped Panthers would take advantage of Cincy starter Evan Shawver’s departure from the game, grabbing three runs and the lead off of reliever Nick Murray in the bottom of the fifth.

Cincinnati would tie the game back up in the seventh on a force out by Eric Santiago, then take the lead in the ninth on a single by noted prospect Joey Weimer, who finished the day 1-2 at the plate with three walks, two stolen bases, three runs, and an RBI. Designated hitter Wyatt Stapp hit a sacrifice fly to center to add an insurance run, making it 8-6.

Not to be outdone, the Panthers drew two walks off of Weimer to start the bottom of the ninth. A pitching change, a bunt, three wild pitches and two more walks later, the Panthers had pushed the contest into extra innings.

Cameron Jones took only nine pitches to strike out the side in the top of the 10th, an immaculate inning. The Panthers awarded him by finishing it with a Merejo double and Daino Deas single and getting him the win.

Cincinnati had won the American Athletic Conference Tournament last season and upset Oregon State to start the NCAA Tournament regionals. They look to bounce back against Georgia Tech in Midtown tomorrow, while the Panthers look to make it two in a row with new head coach Brad Stromdahl.