Panther Baseball Weekly Update: 2/19-2/25

Panther Baseball Weekly Update: 2/19-2/25

                                                                                                        Photo credit: Georgia State Athletics

After Covid-19 ended their 2020 season prematurely, Georgia State baseball got a chance to restart the 2021 campaign this past weekend, hosting two power-conference opponents in Panthersville. The team earned their first wins against a ranked opponent under head coach Brad Stromdahl when they swept Saturday’s double-header against #14 West Virginia. Here’s the action that was this past week for Georgia State baseball:

Panthers’ record entering week: 0-0

Georgia State took #14 West Virginia to extra innings on Opening Day, but Vince Ippoliti’s 10th-inning two-run home run won it for the Mountaineers.

The Panthers responded with a Saturday sweep, winning Game 1 with a 10th-inning win over their own via an Elian Merejo walk-off RBI single and then using an 11-run 1st inning to race out to a comfortable 20-4 win in the nightcap.

The Panthers held West Virginia to just three hits but spurned the opportunity to earn a series win over their ranked foe. They gave up two WVU runs in the 6th inning to lose their 2-1 lead and couldn’t scratch a run across in the final four innings.

In-state foe #7 Georgia came to Atlanta Wednesday afternoon and came away with the win in the one-off game. The Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the 1st and led the whole game, taking it 6-2 in the end.

Season stat leaders to date:

• Batting average – SS Will Mize (.444)
• Home runs – SS Will Mize (1)
• RBIs – 1B Elian Merejo (6)
• Wins – Rafael Acosta, Camren Landry (1)
• ERA – Multiple players (0.00)
• Strikeouts – Ryan Watson (7)

Upcoming games:

• @ Vanderbilt (4) – Feb 26-28
• @ Georgia Tech – March 2

* Box score template by Operation Sports (https://dynasties.operationsports.com/generator.php?act=create&gid=1&sport=mlb)