Baseball Falls to Georgia State

ATLANTA – Belmont University (0-2) and Georgia State (2-0) faced off in the second game of their weekend series to open the 2025 series. The Bruins out-hit the Panthers 12-6 in the game but couldn't hold off the Panthers in the bottom of the eighth. A two-run home run from Georgia State's Colin Hynek handed the Bruins their second loss.
 
Georgia State scored a pair of runs in the second inning. The Panthers had bases loaded with two outs. A bloop pop fly and error on Michael Lareau led to two unearned runs crossing the plate. Belmont starting pitcher Joe Ruzicka ended the inning with a strikeout. Georgia State led 2-0 after two innings.
 
Belmont responded in the third inning. Lareau reached base with a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Charlie Davis hit a ground ball to the right side to score Lareau and cut the Belmont deficit to 2-1.
 
 
The Panthers went back up by two with a leadoff home run by Jesse Donohoe, 3-1.
 
Andrew Perry made his collegiate debut in the fifth inning. His outing started with a three-pitch strikeout.
 
 
Georgia State only totaled two hits in the 10 batters they sent to plate with Perry on the mound, one of them being a solo home run by Kaleb Freeman in the seventh inning.
 
Trailing 4-1 entering the eighth, the Bruins needed to convert with runners in scoring position. Belmont had their opportunities and cashed in. Ty Allen led off with a double to left field. Mike Sprockett followed suit with a double down the right field line.
 
 
Blake Barton moved Sprocket to third on a single through the left side. Following a pitching change, Barton stole second. Lareau stepped into the box with two outs and delivered a single through the right side that scored Sprockett and Barton. Belmont carried momentum in the bottom of the eighth with the score tied at four.
 
 
Belmont called upon Trey Maeker from the bullpen to preserve the lead. After a leadoff walk, Hynek smashed a two-run home run to left field. Georgia State retook the lead and held on to win the game, 6-4.
 
Bruin Bullets

• Five Bruins recorded two hits in the game: Pete Daniel, Charlie Davis, Ty Allen, Gardner Lawrence and Michael Lareau.
• Lareau led the Bruins with two RBIs.
• Davis and Sprockett both recorded a double and RBI.
• Four Bruins stole a base: Blake Barton, Daniel, Davis and Lareau.
• Starting pitcher Joe Ruzicka struck out three in four innings of work. He allowed three hits and one earned run.
• Andrew Perry tossed three innings in his collegiate debut. The freshman stuck out four batters and allowed one run on two hits.

 
Belmont and Georgia State close out the series tomorrow, Feb. 15. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET/ noon CT. Fans can follow along with live stats or on X at @belmontbaseball.

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