The Sun Belt Conference threw a party on Tuesday, gifting college baseball with two top 10 upsets against in-state opponents, and it wasn't from the hands of typical culprits like No. 9 Coastal Carolina or No. 12 Southern Miss.
The stars of the show were Arkansas State and Georgia State.
Check out the surprising results during the second midweek slate of the season.
Arkansas State upsets No. 6 Arkansas for the first time ever
Arkansas State etched Tuesday’s date into program history with a historic win, and it didn’t need to leave the state.
The Red Wolves pummeled No. 6 Arkansas, 12-4, just four hours West of their home turf. It marks Arkansas State’s first-ever win over the Razorbacks.
They didn’t waste time jumping on their in-state foe, plating six runs in the second inning to lead 6-2 entering the third. They hit two out of Baum-Walker Stadium, the second a grand slam by center fielder Ashton Quiller to left center.
ASHTON QUILLER GRAND SLAM
— Arkansas State Red Wolves Baseball (@AStateBaseball)
☄️101mph
☄️395ft🐺
Although still early in the contest, Quiller’s homer foreshadowed how the contest would play out.
The Red Wolves got done at the plate and in the field, turning double plays and scoring at least a run in four of the next seven innings, whereas Arkansas scored twice. Every Arkansas State player reached base at least once by the final out, five had one or more RBIs, and four hit home runs.
Left fielder Cros Jumper took right-handers Peyton Lee and Cooper Dossett deep.
Homer No. ✌️ today for Cross
— Arkansas State Red Wolves Baseball (@AStateBaseball)
🔥102mph
🔥398t🐺
Arkansas will look to rebound in its weekend series versus UT Arlington.
Georgia State stuns No. 4 Georgia Tech for historic win
Georgia State cleaned off its record books on Tuesday as well, beating No. 4 Georgia Tech on the road, 9-4, to capture one of the biggest wins in school history.
Defined by a late-game surge, the term pride and excitement might not be enough to describe the Panthers’ emotions after beating a university located less than 10 minutes away.
Down 2-0 in just the first inning, the comeback began in the fifth.
GSU’s left fielder, Adam Haber, started the frame with a double and scored two at-bats later thanks to designated hitter Hunter Carlson’s RBI single to left field. Two batters later, Carlson was high-fiving catcher Lucas Grantham at home plate following his two-run blast.
Lucas Grantham 💣💣!!
— GSU Baseball (@GSU_Base)
Panthers take the 4-2 lead in the 5th! |
4-2 ball game.
Georgia State’s bats didn’t cool off until the eighth inning, scoring three in the eighth and two more in the seventh to take a 9-2 lead. Each player finished the game with at least one hit.
The Yellow JJackets'consecutive one run innings in the seventh and eighth weren’t enough to change the tide, losing their first game of the season.
Out of nine contests this season, it's just the second time they’ve scored less than 10 runs. They will welcome Northwestern this weekend for a three-game series.
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