By David Rogers. ATLANTA, Ga. — Fueled by a pair of RBI doubles, App State used a 5-run 7th inning to rally past host Georgia State on April 27 at the GSU Baseball Complex, edging the Panthers, 6-5.
GSU scored one run in each of the second and fourth innings, then surged on top with a 3-run 5th inning to take a 5-1 lead going into the second half of the game. What the Mountaineers have proven time and again in the 2024 campaign, however, is that few opponent leads are safe given their high-scoring potential.
In the critical 7th inning, Austin St. Laurent ripped the first pitch thrown to him to a deep infield singled, the GSU shortstop unable to make the play in time. Drew Holderbach immediately followed with a double down the left field line to score St. Laurent all the way from first base. After Banks Tolley walked to put runners on first and second, C J Boyd doubled to the gap in left, scoring Holderbach. Joseph Moronta joined the RBI parade with a single through the right side, scoring Tolley, then Adam Quintero launched a fly ball to deep right field for a sacrifice fly, Boyd tagging up at third and scoring.
Moronta stole second to put himself in scoring position with two outs before Braxton Church walked. Then, Hunter Wilder capitalized with a single to centerfield, with Moronta beating the throw to the plate.
With the win, App State’s record improved to 25-14-1 overall, 10-9-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
KEY PERFORMERS
- APP – Austin St. Laurent: 2-4, 1 run scored, walk
- APP – Adam Quintero: 3-4, 2 RBIs, 2B
- APP – C J Boyd: 2-5, 2 runs scored, 1 RBI
- APP – Xavier Moronta: 2-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI. walk
- APP – Drew Holderbach: 1-5, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2B
- APP – Grey LaSpaluto: winning pitcher, 3 innings, no hits, no runs, 1 walk, 5 strikeouts
