TROY, Ala. -- Zach George's lead-off home run ignited a four-run first innings, and eighth-seeded Arkansas State went on for a 6-2 win over No. 5 Georgia State in a Sun Belt Conference Tournament elimination game here Friday.
George and Tanner King each had three of the Red Wolves' seven hits, King driving in three runs. Colton Kibler pitched 6 1-3 innings after relieving starter Jon Glidewell in the second, and Tyler Zuber got the last five outs facing four batters.
Ring had and RBI double in the first, another run scored on a wild pitch and Collin Massanelli's run-scoring groundout made it 4-0. Georgia State scored twice in the third off Kibler (4-4), but ASU answered in the fourth on Ring's two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs.
Kibler allowed five hits, walked two and struck out four. Zuber relieved with two runners on and one out in the eighth and induced a double-play grounder, then pitched a perfect ninth.
The Red Wolves (27-29) play top-seeded South Alabama at 9 a.m. today in their second tournament matchup with the Jagaurs. South Alabama defeated ASU 6-2 Wednesday, the Red Wolves rebounding for a 6-1 win over Georgia Southern Thursday.
Sports on 05/23/2015