The Georgia State baseball team held Auburn to just six hits Tuesday night, but unfortunately it was not enough as the Tigers earned a 4-2 victory over State. Senior Chase Childers continued his hot play at the plate, going 3-for-3 at the with a walk. It was Childers fifth three-hit game of the season.

“I have to credit coach with a lot of things that are going on at the plate for me right now,” commented Childers after an early season slump. “He and I just talked about some of the things I needed to work on, as well as correct some of the things I was doing wrong. I needed to start helping the team, so I set out doing those things and I give him the credit for helping me get things going.”

With the loss, the Panthers fell to 19-10. Auburn improved to 21-10.

Senior John Locklear (4-2) pitched 5.1 innings for the Panthers, scattering just four hits, while allowing three runs, two earned in the hard fought loss.

“I am very proud of the team's effort tonight,” commented head coach Greg Frady. “I think we played hard, consistent and a high-level of baseball tonight. It is seldom that you see three or four solo home runs beat you. However, I tip my hat to the Auburn team. I think this shows we can play and beat anyone if we get some breaks. We hit some balls hard tonight, unfortunately, they were just right at some Auburn fielders.”

The Panthers threatened in the top of the first as seniors Derek Simmons and Childers both walked to give State runners on first and second with just one out. However, junior Bradley Logan struck-out and senior Matt Van Horn popped out as Dexter Price was able to get out of the inning.

The Tigers struck first in the bottom of the third as Hunter Morris hit a solo home run, his seventh of the season.

Childers led off the top of the fourth with a single to left field, extending his hitting streak to eight games. The senior earned CAA Player of the Week honors on Monday after batting .522 last week, going 12-for-23.

Locklear got out of a big jam in the bottom of the fifth. After walking Dan Gamache to lead off the inning, Justin Hargett doubled to right-center, advancing Chezz McCann to third, who had pinch-run for Gamache.

On the third pitch to Trent Mummey, senior catcher Marc Mimeault threw out McCann leading of third. Locklear got Mummey to ground out before getting out of the inning on a line out to right center by Joseph Sanders.

Childers got the Panthers on the board in the top of the sixth, driving in senior Nick Hogan to tie the game 1-1, while chasing starter Dexter Price from the game.

Price would not factor in the decision after pitching 5.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out two and walking three.

The Tigers quickly struck again in the bottom of the sixth as Tony Caldwell hit his seventh home run of the season, as Auburn took a 2-1 lead.

Ben Jones followed with a triple off the center field walk and scored on an error by Jonathan Kolowich as Auburn went up by two.

Palmer, who relieved Locklear in the sixth, finished the game with 2.0 innings pitched, allowing two hits, while striking out a pair.

The Panthers got one back in the top of the eighth as Hogan walked to lead off the inning, chasing Hurst from the game. Childers followed with a single off the second baseman, while Hogan advanced to third when Hargett threw the ball over the first baseman's head. Hogan then scored on a wild pitch by Austin Hubbard.

Hurst (3-0) got the win after pitching 1.2 innings of relief, allowing no hits and giving up just one run.

Caldwell hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the eighth, putting the Tigers ahead by two again.