LAS CRUCES, N.M. - A home run by Chase Perkins and a double by Ben Harty highlighted the Aggies' ninth inning come from behind win over Georgia State, 12-11, Saturday afternoon at Presley Askew Field.
In the bottom of the ninth, Perkins would hit a two run home run to the tie the game at 11-11, while Harty's double drove in Sodders, who walked in the pervious at bat, giving the Aggies the 12-11 win.
The Aggies improve to 11-8 on the season, while Georgia State falls to 7-7 on the season. The weekend series is now tied at 1-1, with the series deciding game slated for 1:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
Harty led the Aggies at the plate with four hits, grabbing two runs and three RBI. Mike Sodders tallied four runs on two hits and an RBI, including the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Perkins would also have good day at the plate, scoring two runs on two hits and recording three RBI.
Scott Coffman recorded the win for NM State, going a third of an inning, striking out one batter. Coffman moves to 2-1 on the season. Aggie starter Jared Jordan threw two and a third innings, allowing seven runs on six hits.
Georgia State opened with four runs in the top of the first. Panther center fielder Mark Cikowski led off with a single. NM State pitcher Jared Jordan hit the next two batters to load the bases.
Panther third baseman Bradley Logan hit a deep sacrifice fly to center to bring across Cikowski. GSU right fielder Ryan Fleming smacked a three-run homer to clear the bases for the 4-0 Panther lead.
NM State battled back in the bottom of the frame with a home run by shortstop Ryan Aguayo to cut the lead to 4-1. After Aggie second baseman Mike Sodders drew a walk, catcher Ben Harty doubled down the left field line to score Sodders to chop the GSU lead in half after one.
In the top of the second, Georgia State added another pair of runs. Micowski started off the second inning with another hit, this time a double. The Aggies posted two outs before Logan knocked a pitch over the wall to increase the Panther lead to 6-2.
In the bottom of the frame, Aggie designated hitter Leo Aguirre belted a pitch out of the park in center field to cut the Panther margin to 6-3 after two innings.
GSU added another run in its half of the third when Panther second baseman Rob Lind scored two batters after drawing a walk. Georgia State catcher Carter Sackett doubled to move to Lind to third. Next Panther shortstop Carl Moniz hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Lind and make it 7-3.
The Aggies matched the Panthers in the bottom of the third after Harty reached on an error. He later plated a run after an RBI single by NM State left fielder J.P. Wilner to get the Aggies back within three at 7-4.
In the bottom of the fourth, NM State closed to within one at 7-6. A triple by right fielder Chace Perkins started the inning off for the Aggies. Aguayo batted in Perkins on a sacrifice fly to right. Sodders and Harty both reached on singles. Pinch hitter Tyler Owens brought in Sodders with an RBI double.
The Panther bats exploded for four more in the top of the fifth. After a walk by Lind, Sackett drove him home with a single in the next at-bat. Later Brett Maxwell reached on an Aggie error and Sackett would cross home plate. A home run over the wall in center by designated hitter Joey Wood scored two more runs for the Panthers and increased the GSU cushion to 11-6.
In the bottom of the fifth the Aggies added another run to get within four at 11-7. Wilner opened with a double and advanced on a bunt single by NM State center fielder Wesley Starkes. A sacrifice fly to center by Perkins scored Wilner for the Aggie run.
After two scoreless innings, NM State opened the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back home runs by Sodders and Harty to cut the GSU lead to two at 11-9.
The Panthers would put two runners on with two outs in the top of the ninth inning but were unable to push anymore runners across, as GSU held on to an 11-9 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
The Aggies' Kyle Decater walked to start the inning. Perkins then stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run home run to center field to tie the game at 11 all with no outs. It was the sixth homerun of the season for Perkins. With one out in the inning, Sodders would draw a walk to put the winning run on base. Harty then hit a double off the center field wall, allowing Sodders to score from first base, giving NM State the win, 12-11.
Courtesy: Richard Chavez
