Las Cruces, N.M. - In a rare instance, the Georgia State baseball team blew a late lead on Saturday afternoon and fell to New Mexico State, 12-11 at Presley Askew Field. The Panthers led 11-7 with just six outs to go, but were not able to hold the late lead.
The loss ended Georgia State's seven-game winning streak, one short of tying the school record and dropped to 7-7 on the season. New Mexico State improved to 11-8 with the win and snapped a two-game losing streak.
It was the Panthers first loss in five games when leading after eight innings this season. During the record-setting 2009 season, Georgia State finished the year 32-1 when leading after eight innings.
The two teams combined for eight home runs, 23 runs and 28 hits, but it was the late home runs that proved too costly to Georgia State.
The Panthers took an early lead, scoring four times in the top of the first, capped by junior Ryan Fleming's three-run home run. It was Fleming's fourth home run of the season, all coming within the last week.
The Aggies got two back in the bottom half of the inning off Panther starter Aidan Francis, before the Panthers struck again in the top of the second.
Senior Bradley Logan belted a two-run home run to left-center, his fifth of the season, to give Georgia State a 6-2 lead. Logan finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBIs.
Logan has belted 10 home runs in the last 20 games dating back to last season.
The Panthers chased Aggie starter Jared Jordan after just 2.1 innings. Jordan allowed six hits and seven runs, all earned, while walking two.
New Mexico State got one back in the bottom of the second as Leo Aguirre led off the inning with a home run.
The two teams swapped runs in the third, before the Aggies got two more back in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Panthers lead to 7-6.
Francis was relieved by Will Campbell in the fifth. Francis went 4.0 innings, allowing 11 hits and seven runs, six of which were earned.
Campbell pitched 3.0 innings of relief, holding the Aggies to just four hits and two runs, but would not factor in the decision.
As they had been doing during their seven-game winning streak, the Panthers continued to put together big innings. State scored four more in the top of the fifth, capped by redshirt-sophomore Joey Wood's two-run home run, giving the Panthers an 11-6 lead.
Wood finished the game with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs, going 1-for-4 at the plate.
However, New Mexico State, who the Panthers held to just two runs on Friday night, continued to chip away at the Georgia State bullpen.
The Aggies got two in the bottom of the eighth on back-to-back home runs by Michael Sodders and Benjamin Harty.
The long-ball proved to be the Panthers nemesis, as New Mexico State's Chace Perkins hit a two-run shot off of junior Jeremy Gazerro in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game. Harty followed three batters later with a double to center to score Sodders and give the Aggies the win.
Junior Charley Olson (1-2) was charged with the loss after allowing the hit to Sodders.
Coffman (2-1) earned the win for the Aggies, pitching the final one-third inning.
Junior Mark Micowski went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, while junior Carter Sackett also collected a pair of hits.
The two clubs will conclude their series on Sunday at 3:05 p.m. Senior Ryan Moore (1-1) will take to the mound to win the series for Georgia State.
Live stats of all games this weekend can be found via GeorgiaStateSports.com. Tickets for the next home game on March 23rd against Alabama State can be purchased by visiting the box office, by calling 1-866-GA-STATE or visiting any Ticketmaster location.
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