Georgia State Baseball: Thompson Homers in 5-0 Win Over Furman

ATLANTA — Jordan Lee and three relievers combined for the shutout and Jack Thompson hit a three-run home run in Georgia State’s 5-0 victory over Furman Tuesday at the GSU Baseball Complex, the Panthers’ third shutout of the season.

The Panthers (11-10) supported Lee and relievers Tanner Thomson, Liam Henry and Logan Barnette with stellar defense throughout the game, including two double plays and several other sparkling plays that prevented runs.

Lee (1-0), the junior right-hander, pitched five scoreless innings in his second start, allowing four hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Thomson and Henry followed with scoreless innings and then Barnette pitched the final two frames for his second save, with plenty of help from the defense.

Georgia State scored two runs in the first inning without the benefit of hit. Furman starter Nik Verbeke (0-1) was wild to start the game, putting runner at first and third with no outs on two walks and two wild pitches. Ryan Blanton came home on Verbeke’s third wild pitch and then Justin Jones scored on a groundout to put the Panthers ahead 2-0.

That was all the scoring in the game until Thompson’s home run in the eighth, his first of the season to give the Panthers a 5-0 cushion.

Thompson was inserted into the game one at first base inning earlier for his defense and immediately paid dividends with a spectacular diving stop on ball that appeared headed for the right field corner.

Second baseman Will Kilgore was involved in both double plays. First he made a leaping grab on a line drive and then threw to first to double off the runner. Then he and shortstop Justin Jones combined on a 6-4-3 double play in the eighth, after the first two Paladins had walked.

Then with a runner at third and two outs, Jones made another nice play on a chopper but threw wide to Thompson, who fielded the throw and made a sweeping tag for the third out.

Thompson made one more nice play in the ninth, catching a line drive for the first out.

Center fielder Ryan Blanton prevented at least one run in the third inning with a leaping catch at the wall in straightaway center and Romero Greer made a nice snag on a line drive in the seventh after Furman had put runners at first and second with two outs.

Furman (10-9) outhit Georgia State 6-4 and had baserunners in every inning except the first, leaving 10 men on base.

GSU is on the road this weekend for a Sun Belt Conference series at South Alabama, beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m.

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