Georgia State Splits Series Against No. 16 Ole Miss

Oxford, Mississippi- The Georgia State Panthers (7-5) traveled to Mississippi to face the No. 16 ranked Ole Miss Rebels (8-5) in a two-game series. The Panthers spilt the series out-pitching the Rebels by allowing only one run and six hits in the entire series.

On Tuesday, GSU lost in a pitchers duel and got shut out by the Rebels falling (1-0). Freshman starting left hander Ryan Rolison out of Jackson, Tennessee threw five scoreless innings. He allowed four hits, two walks, and struck out five. Rolison is now (2-0) on the season. Closer Will Stokes sealed the win and gets his third save of the year. 

Although the Panthers were shutout, they still had more hits (6) than the Rebels (3). Justin Jones lead the way with two hits. Jarrett Hood, Payton Mann, Darius Sewell, and Cam Sperry all chipped in for a hit a piece. “It was an honor to be in a game like that with two good teams playing really good baseball,” said coach Greg Frady.

The Panthers had opportunities to come away with the win. In the fourth inning, the bases were loaded with two outs but they couldn’t capitalize. They also had runners on first and second in the sixth inning with one out but couldn’t come up with the score.

Panther’s pitchers Brandon Baker, Tanner Thomson, and Rhett Harper combined to limit Ole Miss to only three hits. Baker was handed the lost (0-1) as he gave up a solo homer to Ole Miss’s center fielder Kyle Watson in the second inning as the only score of the game. “I want to acknowledge that Ole Miss’ pitching was really good tonight and gave our hitters difficulty, but our pitching was really good tonight and we gave their hitters difficulty,” stated Frady.

In game two, GSU returned the favor on Wednesday by shutting out the Rebels 2-0 in extra innings. 

The victory was so impressive that it is the highest ranked opponent that GSU has beaten since 2012 when the Panthers beat No. 9 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Panther’s pitchers were in a zone on Wednesday. Devin Vainer, Liam Henry, Logan Barnette and Rhett Harper combined for a three-hit shutout.

Vainer started the game. The senior lefty out of Atlanta, Georgia allowed two hits and two walks with four strikeouts in four innings. Henry was called upon in the fourth to face Ole Miss’ Kyle Watson. Henry came in the game with a 2-0 count already against him, but he battled back and struck out Watson. Henry then sat down the next eight batters he faced lasting 2.2 innings.

Marietta’s [Georgia] own Barnette started the seventh. He retired the Rebels in order in the seventh but in the eighth, he pitched himself  in a jam with runners on first and third with two outs. Barnette was able to get a ground out to end the inning. He ended up with the win (2-0) by allowing only one hit in 5 innings pitched.

The offense finally woke up late as the Panthers were able to get the win in the eleventh innings. Infielder Mike Huggins led off the top of the eleventh with a single. Ryan Blanton followed by doubling over the right fielders’s head to place runners on first and third. With no outs, shortstop Justin Jones out of Warner Robins hammered a pitch just inside the third base line into left field to score both runners.

Will Ethridge started the game for the Rebels. He was perfect for 5.2 innings until Huggins singled with two outs in the sixth. He managed 7.2 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Dallas Woolfolk was handed the lost (1-1).

Georgia State will play three games in Emerson, Ga at the LakePoint Sporting Complex. Game one will be against Bowling Green.