ATLANTA, Ga. - App State Baseball fell behind early but used a five-run seventh inning to come from behind and clinch a Sun Belt Conference road series win with a 6-5 victory against Georgia State on Saturday afternoon.
Taking the mound with App State trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning, Grey LaSpaluto improved to 7-0 by striking out five batters in three scoreless, hitless innings that provided the Mountaineers (25-14-1, 10-9-1) with an opportunity to rally. Zach Lewis then recorded his third save of the year by pitching a scoreless ninth with a one-run lead.
With one out in the top of the seventh, Drew Holderbach roped a double down the left-field line to score Austin St. Laurent from first base. After a Banks Tolley walk, CJ Boyd doubled to left field to score Holderbach, and Xavier Moronta then snuck an RBI single through the right side of the infield to plate Tolley.
A sacrifice fly from Adam Quintero tied the game, and Hunter Wilder gave the Mountaineers the lead with a single into center field.
Quintero led the way at the plate, tallying three hits, including a double and two RBIs. The Mountaineers racked up 12 hits in the game, their sixth straight game with double-digit hits.
Jackson Steensma got the start on the mound and gave the Mountaineers four quality innings of work. He only allowed two earned runs, walked none and struck out four.
After GSU took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the Mountaineers evened the score in the top half of the fourth. Back-to-back singles from Boyd and Moronta got the inning started, and Quintero drilled an RBI double off the base of the wall in left field to score Boyd. The ballgame didn't stay tied long, as a solo home run in the fourth gave the Panthers a 2-1 lead.
Cody Little entered in relief of Steensma in the fifth and surrendered three runs as Georgia State extended its lead to 5-1.
App State will go for the series sweep on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
